Chinese artisans began to produce Buddhist images soon after the arrival of Buddhism to the Chinese heartland. Over the course of many centuries these images were gradually influenced by both doctrinal developments and Chinese aesthetic tastes, resulting in a distinctively Chinese style of Buddhist art.

The Western and Eastern Jin dynasties to the Southern and Northern dynasties (265 – 581)

This important period in the history of Chinese culture was characterized by the ongoing influence of Indian Buddhist art. During this time, the cultural differences between southern and northern China led to two distinct styles of Buddhist art, whereby images produced in the south tended to be gentle and elegant, while those of the north tended to exude a sense of power and grandeur. However, following the extensive sinicization of the north which occurred under the Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei dynasty (368–534), both the north and south adopted a style characterized by flowing garments, graceful postures, and elegant features.

The Sui and Tang dynasties (581–907)

Following centuries of disunity, with the advent of the Sui dynasty (581–618) the north and south of China were reunited, ushering in a golden age in Chinese art and culture which continued through the Tang dynasty (618–907). During this period both monastic and lay artisans applied their talents and deep understanding of Buddhist doctrine to refashion traditional forms of Indian art to suit Chinese aesthetic tastes. The result was the creation of highly idealized images characterized by dignity, corpulence, liveliness, and elaborate ornamentation.

The Song, Liao, Jin, and Yuan dynasties (960–1368)

Following the fall of the Tang dynasty, due to the influence of political, economic, and intellectual trends, Buddhist art began to adopt a realism which emphasized both inner emotion and external features. This style began in the Northern Song and continued through the Yuan dynasty. The result was the creation of a large number of masterpieces characterized by a vivid and brisk naturalness.

Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911)

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Buddhist art entered a period of decline in which the images produced were characterized by plump physiques, stiff postures, gaudy ornamentation, and a paucity of subject matter. While the Buddhist art produced during this time still manages to conjure up a sense of elegance and gentle dignity, it is generally lacking in vigor, and can be seen as reflecting the declining state of Buddhism as a whole. However, much of the folk art produced during this period displays a lively style imbued with vitality.