History - Advantique Nederland

The two-thousand year history of China and its civilization originates from small populations that settled along the valleys of the Yellow River (and the Yangtze River), considered the cradle of Chinese civilization. The first writings found on Chinese history date back to the Shang dynasty (1600-1046 BC), although philosophy, culture and literature developed in the following Zhou Dynasty (1045-256 BC).

CHINESE DYNASTIES

The imperial period, began by the Emperor Qin Shi Huang (221 BC), gave birth to a history dominated largely by various dynasties that ruled parts of China. It all ended with the last dynasty, the Qing Dynasty, which was defeated by Republican rebels in the Wuchang Uprising, in 1911, followed by the abdication of Emperor child Pu Yi(1912) and the appointment of Yuan Shi-kai as president of the Republic of China.

The term “dynasty” means a succession of rulers from the same family clan. While some dynasties persisted for centuries (see Zhou and Ming), others lasted only a few decades (see Qin and Sui) .

The ancient Chinese did not know the concept of “nation” and only rarely national boundaries were permanently defined. “All lands are under the watch of Heaven” was a basic principle of the dynasties that effectively unified China as a nation. The emperor, called the Son of Heaven, ensured titles to the rulers of neighboring territories, thus uniting several regions and ethnic groups under a single administration.

It is also a history characterized by alternating periods of unity, with the expansion of dynasties, and period of divisions (or disunity) , with the presence of other peoples from Central Asia, which over the centuries were assimilated into the Han population (often it is the name used as the original ethnic Chinese population, to differentiate themselves from other ethnic minorities in China).

1912 puts an end to the Celestial Empire.

Since each dynasty was unique, it left behind a wide range of culture, art, philosophy and historical artifacts for us to admire.

All Chinese Dynasty’s

More information

We have highlighted a number of dynasties on our website. Use the drop down menu to select the dynasty and their associated important emperors.

Purchase

You may recognize it, you have a box in the attic with old crockery from an inheritance of which you doubt whether it may be Chinese or that a loved one has recently past away who presumably has Chinese porcelain in the cupboard or plates hanging on the wall.

Not everyone is charmed by this form of art or does think it will not fit in their home interior and therefore often will be put in a box in the attic and will stay there for many many years. That’s a shame, because we believe that this beautiful porcelain should be on display and cherished.

Would you like to know whether something is Chinese antique and are you considering selling it at a fair price or would you like to have one of us come by to look at these items on location? Then this is certainly possible. We are located in Almere.

We would like to receive some clear photos in advance by email or by WhatsApp so that we can see whether this is indeed Chinese and interesting for us. We would also like to hear approximately how many pieces are involved.

Whatsapp us!