Tomb-guarding Animal
Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian
The Tomb of the Chu King on the Lion Mountain
The Tomb of Zhao Shudai in the Jin State |
A tomb-guarding animal is a sculpture put in front of a large tomb to exorcise evil spirits in ancient China. It has two major functions, to keep away evil spirits and to serve as a guardian of the Hades to prevent the spirits from being lost or from haunting. The guardian animal appeared in early Warring States Period at latest and became prevalent during the middle period. Mostly one piece is made for one tomb. Those tomb owner guarded by the animals were generally of high social rank. The animals are often sculpted into the shape of ferocious beasts, with some also in the form of a human being or an animal body with a human face. |
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- A Tomb-guarding Animal of a Chu Tomb in Warring States Period
- Unearthed from a tomb of Chu state in Warring States Period in Hubei, it's in a special shape of an animal head with antlers.
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- Bronze Crouching Deer in Warring States Period
- Antlers are usually glorified and exaggerated in artistic creations in ancient China.
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- An Antelope Ornament in Warring States Period
- The antelope is regarded as an evil-exorcising animal in ancient China, since its horns are extremely rare treasure for keeping away toxins.
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- Painted animal tomb-guardian of the Northern Wei Dynasty
- 22cm long, 15cm high; open mouth, erect ears and mane, glaring eyes; four hooves stepping on the ground, looking quite ferocious.
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- Animal tomb-guardian of the Northern Qi Dynasty
- The animal tomb-guardian has a face which looks like that of the Tartars; leopard body, fox tail, and three vertical fin-like objects on the back.
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- Painted gilt lion-shaped animal tomb-guardian
- Painted gilt lion-shaped animal tomb-guardian
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- Sancai animal tomb-guardian
- Excavated from Lingzhao Township, Chang'an County, Shaanxi Province; measuring 29 cm high and 16 cm wide.
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- Painted human-faced animal tomb-guardian in the Zhaoling Mausoleum of the Tang Dynasty
- Painted human-faced animal tomb-guardian in the Zhaoling Mausoleum of the Tang Dynasty
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- Human-faced glazed pottery animal tomb-guardian
- Unearthed from the tomb of Princess Changle in Liquan County, Shaanxi Province; human face and animal body, taking on a crouching posture, a wimble-shaped horn on the head, big ears.
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- Painted two-head animal tomb-guardian
- Unearthed from the tomb of Imperial Concubine Wei in Liquan County of Shaanxi Province; measuring 52.9cm high and 48.4cm long.
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- Animal tomb-guardian in Qianling Mausoleum
- The Pegasus has a clearly-structured posture, taking on a majesty and graceful look; the head rising high, protruding eyes, closed mouth, with a vivid and fiery expression; its hooves stepping on...
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