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Tomb figurine of a standing soldier
Tomb figurine of a standing soldier

Tomb figurine of a standing soldier

Dateunknown
MediumGray terra-cotta with traces of red and black pigments
DimensionsHeight: 8 1/2 inches (21.6 cm)
CultureChina
ClassificationsSculpture
Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. James Stein
Terms
  • Sculpture
  • Gray terra cotta with traces of red and black pigments
Object number81.144.001
Label CopyBRIEF DESCRIPTION This clay model of a granary was placed in a Han dynasty tomb with other models of earthly possessions meant to provide for the deceased in the afterlife. WHERE WAS IT MADE? This model was made within the area of Luoyang, Henan Province in Central China. WHEN WAS IT MADE? This model was made in the Han dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). During the Han Dynasty the people of China established the Silk Road, a trade route that linked China to the Roman Empire. They formed strong political alliances abroad while inventing new technologies such as paper and lead-glazed ceramics at home. HOW WAS IT MADE? Objects that are made to use in the afterlife are called mingqi (ming chi). Clay mingqi are formed in molds. Clay can be pressed into the same mold over and over again to make many copies. The artists who made mingqi in ancient China worked together in workshops. Several clay pieces are joined together to make a complex sculpture. HOW WAS IT USED? This model of a granary was found in a Han dynasty tomb. Tombs served as a house for the spirit of the deceased. They were filled with objects to provide for the spirit and prevent the spirit from turning into a ghost that would harass the living. Many of the funerary practices of the Han were adopted from the preceding Bronze Age. Han tombs provide us with a wealth of information about daily life and social practices because people from all social classes—not just imperial families—constructed tombs filled with objects from their lives. Imperial tombs were large-scale projects that took many years to build—often, emperors began work on their tombs in the second year of their reign and reserved one-third of their personal treasury for the construction. More modest tombs consisted of several chambers built into the earth with stone tiles, each filled with objects for entertainment, feasting, housing, and protection. Painted on the walls are scenes from daily life, memorials of the deceased, and funeral processions. WHY DOES IT LOOK LIKE THIS? Ceramic architectural models excavated from Han tombs are replicas of actual buildings that reflect contemporary living conditions. Models of farmhouses, animal pens, and watchtowers were also often placed in Han tombs.
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