| Period | Region | Philosophy | Context | Design Principles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient (3000 BCE - 500 CE) | Indus Valley | Nature worship, early Hinduism | Urban planning, trade networks | Symmetry, naturalistic motifs, functionality |
| Ancient China | Animism, ancestor veneration, early Confucianism, Taoism | Agricultural societies, dynastic rule | Symbolism, geometric patterns, taotie motifs | |
| Early India | Vedic religion, Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism | Mauryan Empire, post-Mauryan states | Monumental scale, narrative reliefs, symbolic imagery | |
| Central Asia | Animal worship, shamanism, Zoroastrianism | Nomadic cultures, Silk Road trade | ”Animal style”, Hellenistic influences | |
| Classical (500 CE - 1200 CE) | China (Tang/Song) | Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Neo-Confucianism | Golden Age, scholar-official culture | Elegance, naturalism, subtle expressionism |
| Japan | Buddhism, Shinto, court culture | Chinese influence, indigenous development | Refinement, symbolism, yamato-e style | |
| Korea | Buddhism, Confucianism | Three Kingdoms, Unified Silla, Goryeo Dynasty | Synthesis of native and foreign influences, elegance | |
| India | Hinduism, Buddhism, Tantrism | Regional kingdoms, temple patronage | Idealized forms, complex iconography | |
| Southeast Asia | Hinduism, Mahayana Buddhism, Theravada Buddhism | Maritime trade, agrarian empires | Indian influences, local adaptations, cosmological symbolism | |
| Medieval (1200 CE - 1700 CE) | Islamic South Asia | Islam, syncretic practices | Delhi Sultanate, Mughal Empire | Indo-Islamic fusion, calligraphy, naturalism |
| China (Yuan/Ming) | Neo-Confucianism, Chan Buddhism | Mongol rule, native restoration | Dynamic compositions, technical perfection, antiquarianism | |
| Japan | Zen Buddhism, samurai culture | Shogunate rule, civil war | Simplicity, suggestion, bold decoration | |
| Korea (Joseon) | Neo-Confucianism | Centralized monarchy, scholar-official culture | Simplicity, harmony with nature | |
| Southeast Asia | Theravada Buddhism, Islam | Regional kingdoms, early European contact | Monumental architecture, refined sculpture | |
| Early Modern (1700 CE - 1900 CE) | India | Mughal decline, European influence | British East India Company, nationalism | Hybrid of Indian and Western techniques, revivalism |
| China (Qing) | Neo-Confucianism, Western influence | Manchu rule, increasing foreign pressure | Technical virtuosity, antiquarianism | |
| Japan (Edo/Meiji) | Neo-Confucianism, Buddhism, Westernization | Isolationism, then rapid modernization | Stylization, urban aesthetics, blend of traditional and Western | |
| Korea (Late Joseon) | Neo-Confucianism, Catholic influence | Rise of merchant class | True-view landscape, folk art | |
| Southeast Asia | Colonial influence, traditional continuity | European colonization | Hybrid of local and Western styles | |
| Modern and Contemporary (1900 CE - Present) | Pan-Asian | Nationalism, modernism, postmodernism | Decolonization, globalization | Synthesis of traditional and modern, experimentation |
| South Asia | Postcolonialism, social critique | Independence, economic growth | Narrative art, conceptual approaches | |
| East Asia | Avant-garde, social realism, pop art | Communism, rapid industrialization | Experimental techniques, multimedia | |
| Southeast Asia | Cultural identity, social engagement | Nation-building, economic development | Hybrid forms, installation art | |
| Central Asia | Post-Soviet identity | Independence, cultural rediscovery | Revival of traditional motifs, contemporary media |
Note: This table provides a broad overview and necessarily simplifies complex artistic developments. Individual artists and movements often transcend these categories.