art and architecture in china

History of Art during the medieval period (from Han to Song Dynasty) is often characterized as a long period of continuity, by which culture prospered and economic growth developed without interruption for over a millennium. This characterization is misguiding, especially when we consider political turmoil and social interruptions that took place repeatedly during the span of over years. The issue at hand is therefore the insufficiency of art history to offer more a nuanced reading of objects with political events. In this essay, you are asked to write an insightful discussion that could represent those political interruptions through designs on art and/or architecture. You must choose 3 periods of interruptions to be represented in 3 sets of objects (or 3 objects). The periods you choose can be from any periods, from Han Dynasty to Song Dynasty. These interruptions could be internal (such as crises within one particular kingdom/dynasty) or external (such as invasion and conquest by another kingdom/dynasty over the reigning dynasty.) Your essay must include footnotes and bibliography. Your essay must follow an academic format, with introduction paragraphs, main body of arguments, and a paragraph of conclusion.