Asian art encompasses the vast and diverse artistic heritage of the Asian continent, spanning thousands of years and dozens of countries, including East Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia), South Asia (Indian subcontinent), Central Asia (Tibet), and Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam)

. It includes a wide range of art forms such as painting, sculpture, calligraphy, ceramics, textiles, architecture, and performing arts. These art forms are deeply intertwined with the region’s religions, philosophies, and cultural traditions. For example:

• East Asian art is unified by philosophical schools like Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and Shintoism, with painting and calligraphy being prominent forms, often emphasizing nature and precise brushwork

• South Asian art is heavily influenced by Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, with Buddhist art spreading widely and evolving as it traveled across Asia

• Sculpture is closely linked to religious traditions, such as Buddhist statues in India and Southeast Asia, Hindu temple carvings in India, and Chinese jade and bronze works

• Ceramics, including Chinese porcelain, Korean celadon, and Japanese raku ware, demonstrate mastery in clay and glaze techniques

• Textiles like Chinese silk, Indian weavings, Indonesian batiks, and Central Asian ikats serve both functional and symbolic roles

• Architecture ranges from the Great Wall of China and Indian stupas to Japanese pagodas and Islamic mosques in Central and South Asia

Asian art reflects the history of empires, religious spread, cultural exchanges (notably along the Silk Road), and modern influences, making it a living tradition that continues to evolve while rooted in its rich past

. In summary, Asian art is a broad term for the diverse artistic expressions across Asia, characterized by its deep connections to religion, philosophy, and cultural identity, encompassing many mediums and styles developed over millennia