YUAN Dynasty (1271-1368 CE)
Officially known as The Great Yuan, this Mongol-led dynasty established by Kublai Khan was short-lived, ruling between the Song and Ming eras. The Yuan dynasty played a pivotal role in crafting “later Chinese bronzes,” many of which made their way to Japan, where they were employed for flower arrangements, incense burning, and religious and tea ceremonies. For a long time, these late bronzes were dismissed as mere copies of ancient vessels and their significance in Chinese culture and history was not recognised until the 20th century.
The Yuan-dynasty philosopher Zhao Mengfu (1254-1322) believed that copying great artworks of the past guarantees the continuation of culture. Unlike in other dynasties, where objects were marked with artist or imperial seals, ceramics and bronzes produced during the Yuan were engraved primarily for quality control.