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CLASSICAL CHINESE ARTIFACTS

 

4100 terracotta soldiers excavated in 1974 in Pit 1 at the tomb of Emperor Qin Shihuangdi, first emperor of China (221-210 BC) near Xian. These life-size figures represented one of potentially several vast pottery regiments that guarded the spirit of the late emperor. Three pits have been excavated to date, Pit 2 revealing a cavalry regiment, Pit 3 a commander's officer staff. Pit 1 was excavated in 1974. For plan of tomb, see Chinese Architecture page).

 

Canonical Bronze Ritual Vessels of Classical China; molded using ceramic molds, employing incised detail.

Monsters in Chinese Sculpture: 1. Winged lion, statue at the tomb of Prince Hsaio Hsiu (d. 518 AD), near Nanking. 2. Chimaera statue at the tomb of the Emperor Ch'i Wu Ti (d. 493 AD), near Nanking. Chimaeras usually guarded the tombs of emperors; lions those of princes and dukes; the largest are 10-12 ft. long. 3-4. Chimaera statues from imperial tombs of the 6th centry AD. 5. Statue of winged lion at the tomb of Duke Hsaio Ching (d. 523 AD), near Nanking (Chinese Art, Plate III). Chimaeras were a cross between dragons and lions, lions tended to have wings.

Chinese Sculpture: Bronze pacing horse poised on a swallow with wings outstretched. From a tomb at Lei-t'ai, Kansu. Eastern Han Dynasty, 2nd century AD (Sullivan, Arts of China, fig. 86).