Archaeologists have discovered Chinese art that dates back thousands and thousands of years. Some of the earliest art is pottery that comes from the Neolithic period in Chinese history which was 6,000 years before Christ. The earliest pottery found was most often unpainted but later pottery was painted most commonly with faces of animals and humans as well as geometric designs. The end of the Neolithic period was represented by art made out of jade which was abundant in China.

Chinese art continued to develop and changed with every dynasty. Some of the most influential pieces of art in the Bronze Age, during the Zho and Shang dynasties. The Qin dynasty was best known for their sculpture, examples of which include the 7,000 terra cotta soldiers found in the tomb of the dynasty’s most famous emperor. As Buddhism reached China it had a great deal of influence on art and artists as well.

Another form of art that originated in China is martial arts. The Chinese term wushu means "martial or military skill," and the term kung fu means "human achievement." Martial arts were originally used for survival and warfare; however, over time, many different forms of martial arts evolved, and artistry has become one of the main aspects of the "sport."