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Henan Province’s ancient economy was based largely on traditional art and crafts, which were traded extensively throughout the country. The famous tri-coloured glazed pottery of the Tang Dynasty, which originated in Henan province is still much sought after today. Furthermore Peony jade, local embroidery and Bamboo Matts were initially invented for practical use however their intricate detail and astonishing beauty contributed to their growing popularity as ornaments. Bamboo Matts were first introduced during the Ming Dynasty for curtains and decorating, however the versatility of the bamboo soon led to its use as art work. The range of bamboo varieties, offered different shapes, colours and sizes for manufacturing arts, crafts and functional products. Bamboo painting dates back to the ancient times, artists would often draw beautiful images or write poems on the bamboo to be handed down through the generations.
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Other art forms include traditional styles of embroidery, which has been passed down through the generations for over 2000 years. The main material utilized in traditional styles of embroidery was Zhu linen, which required a long convoluted procedure to manufacture. Furthermore the introduction of ancient Lanterns in China during the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD) was wildly popular and still continues today. The ancient Lanterns provide a sense of optimism, blessings while simultaneously banishing demons. The lanterns thin cover protects the flame inside and provides a soft illumination; moreover they come in a variety of colours and designs depending on the circumstances. For celebrations the lanterns are often bright red; however white lanterns are used in temples and during funeral services.
Any journey to Luoyang is not complete without a trip to the provinces amazingly rich historic sites, to explore some of the areas greatest cultural contributions. Luoyang Longman Grottoes is one of the three treasured Chinese stone inscriptions; the first temple Baima Temple was one of the initial temples built after the introduction of Buddhism in China during the late Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD) and was known as Chinese Buddhism or "Shiyuan" and "Zuting". The mountain Mangshan, located in the north has the largest ancient tomb cluster in China, which is believed to date as far back as the East Zhou Dynasty. More than four hundred thousand precious cultural relics have been excavated here, located at the site is an ancient tomb museum which displays a number of these ancient beautiful artifacts.
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