China's feudal society had its heyday under the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and funerary objects of the Tang Dynasty, especially those built when
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| Picture shows an orchestra on camelback, which was unearthed from a Tang Dynasty tomb at Xi' an. | Emperor Gap Zong and Empress Wu Zetian reigned supreme, mirror the dynasty's economic prosperity and military might, as well as peace and political stability the dynasty was able to enjoy. Legendary animal figures supposedly to protect tomb owners were gone. and in their place were fierce-looking guardian gods with animal figures underfoot. Also found in Tang tombs are figurines of civil and military officials in formal attire. Colorful steeds replaced ox carts in tombs of the long period from the Southern-Northern Dynasties to the Sui, the immediately proceeding dynasty. Also gone were those "private armies". From Tang tombs archeologists have found jubilant horse-tiding hunters and musicians, as well as polo players.
The dynasty gave birth to tri-color glazed pottery figurines, which are recognized as representing the peak of ancient Chinese pottery sculptural art. Production of such figurines calls for a temperature ranging from 800 to 1, 100 degrees C. to ensure that colors of the glaze are bright but not transparent. Yellow, green and brown are the main colors, hence the "tri-color glazed pottery figurines". Supplementary colors include blue and black.
As an art form, tri-color glazed pottery figures peaked under Emperor Xuan Zong, who happened to be an art lover and a womanizer at the same time and. probably under his influence, extravagance and wastefulness characterized the lifestyle under his reign. Female figurins produced during this period invariably have chubby faces and are in well filled-out shapes, with high hair buns, long skirts and composed facial expressions.
Nevertheless, even better known are tri-color pottery steeds produced during the Tang Dynasty. The four steeds unearthed from a tomb built in the year 723 for General Xianyu Tinghai are recognized as the most beautiful. These animals are all more than 50 centimeters tall. Two of them are white and the other two, yellow with white hooves, as well as white stripes round their long necks. The saddles and bridles are colorful with decorative patterns of golden flowers and leaves. Two of the horses have on their manes a three-flower pattern popular at the time, and the manes of the other two each bear a single pattern.
Another master piece unearthed from the same tomb is a camel carrying four musicians and a dancer on its back, the dancer, in green costumes, obviously belonging to an ethnic minority group of China's. |
