An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Tomb Guardian with Animal Headearly 700s
With their fierce expressions and exaggerated physical features, fantastic guardian creatures were intended to guard the entrance to a tomb, warding off evil as well as keeping the soul of the deceased from wandering. Known as "earth spirits" or <em>qitou</em>, this one has an animal face and a pair of antlers growing above its eyebrows; the other sports a human face with huge protruding ears and a short horn surrounded by fiery, twisting hair. Their many elongated spikes heighten the fearful intensity.<br><br>Before tomb sculptures were placed in the tomb, they were carried through the streets in a funerary procession. Funerary gifts provided the deceased with means for the afterlife. They were also an expression of filial piety and demonstrated the wealth and power of the descendants.
<em>Sancai</em> (three-color) glazes in green, amber, and transparent white, plus expensive cobalt blue glaze, show the high social status of the tomb’s occupant.
glazed earthenware, sancai (three-color) ware
Overall: 92.3 x 43.8 x 41.9 cm (36 5/16 x 17 1/4 x 16 1/2 in.)
Gift of various donors to the department of Asian Art (by exchange)
In the heart of an ancient land, where the whispers of history lingered in the air, two magnificent guardian creatures stood vigil at the entrance of a grand tomb. With expressions fierce enough to silence even the bravest of hearts, they radiated strength and mystery. Each figure bore exaggerated physical traits, designed not just as protectors, but as fierce sentinels against the darkness that threatened to encroach.
These guardians, known as "earth spirits" or *qitou*, were unlike anything one would find wandering in the world. One creature, with an animal face adorned by a majestic pair of antlers, appeared to stare directly into the soul of every beholder. The other, clasping a human visage, presented huge, protruding ears—like shrouded secrets waiting to be told—accompanied by a unique horn and an unruly crown of fiery, twisting hair. They were bedecked with elongated spikes that added an intensity to their existence, enhancing the aura of dread they were meant to evoke, keeping both evil and wandering spirits at bay.
Imagine, for a moment, the day these sculptures took to the streets, borne aloft during a grand funerary procession. The air was thick with reverence and solemnity as onlookers lined the path to offer their final respects. The procession was a dance of honor, each step echoing with the weight of love and loss. As the guardians were paraded through the throng, they stood free and proud, embodying both the deep sorrow of departure and the promise of the afterlife.
At the heart of this ritual lay the offerings for the deceased—funerary gifts bestowed with care and reverence. These treasures crafted for the journey beyond were not only symbols of wealth and power but, most profoundly, expressions of filial piety. Descendants would present their gifts as a testament to their love and respect, echoing through time the belief in an enduring connection with their ancestors.
In these moments, as the sun cast long shadows and tender whispers of nostalgia floated through the air, the living and the spirit world intertwined. With each heartbeat, the guardians kept watch, unwavering in their duty to protect as the journey to the afterlife began, forever a bridge between the seen and the unseen, between love and remembrance.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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