Xi´an II 
Han (206 B.C.-220 A.D.)
Chinese people started to be known as Han people and the Chinese language was also called Han language by neighboring countries, started from this period.
Han emperors followed Confucius doctrine of reigning with benevolence, working on mass鈥檚 wellbeing and rebuilding economy and keeping peace with neighboring countries.
Japan and Korea and many other surrounding countries sent delegates to pay tribute to China. Unlike the Qin, they allowed the cultures of the new territories to remain intact and encouraged trade and commerce among the various parts of the empire.
Emperor Wudi sent out envoy Zhang Qian twice to visiting neighboring states, bringing large delegations and items to trade.
Silk was an immediate hit. And the route he took became known as the Silk Road.
The Silk Road effects were immediate to China as well. Fuelled by an insatiable appetite for foreign exotica, new products were introduced from the west including pomegranates, grape vines, and fine horses.
But the real benefits are less tangible. It fires the imagination to find that other鈥檚 thoughts can be different from one's own; and exchange of ideas enriches the content of a culture rather than endangers its identity.
People in China really adapted this idea in the grand Tang Dynasty.
The artwork from Tang Dynasty looks most colorful and grandiose, among the most valuable of Shannxi history museum鈥檚 collection.
The famous Tricolor glazed pottery, an exquisite art form that combines ceramics and sculpture was invented in this period.
Song artists continued to perfect the technique and many porcelain kilns were built throughout of China. Yaozhou kiln鈥檚 products are still considered as among the finest examples of porcelain making in China.
Black porcelain cater to my own taste with its grandiose look, but I have to admit the pieces that really bring fame to Yaozhou kiln鈥攃eladon of vivid yet subtle color glaze really are work of art.
The most outstanding accomplishment of Yaozhou kiln porcelain was its decorative patterns. In Song Dynasty, there are many porcelain and carving schools established around Yaozhou.
What makes a craftsman an artist? I don鈥檛 have a ready answer. But I am sure what I saw here was the work of art:
As a tourist, it is quite an experience to have robes on, hands on and the look of making of pottery. I know practice makes perfection, but I have no excuse for my karaoke skills.
To learn about history, most likely you have no other choice but reading hefty history books. In Xi鈥檃n, you have a better option鈥攖o read more hefty ones in the so-called 鈥渟tone library鈥
Stele forest museum was converted from a Confucius temple in 11 century originally, and became the treasure house for storing stone engraved classics ever since.
It is not a place to skip even if you don鈥檛 read Chinese, Picasso understood that very well by saying, had he been born Chinese, he would have been a calligrapher, not a painter.
Like all art, it is best to simply look at them for enjoyment.
Calligraphy, together with painting, music and chess are considered to be one of the four basic skills and disciplines of the Chinese literati. It is also believe to polish ones skill of calligraphy, is also one of means of cultivating one鈥檚 mind.
Stone library deserves its name because of Rubbing, which makes possible for one to take a 鈥渂ook鈥 home.
