Tomb figure of a warrior

This clay sculpture represents a Tang-dynasty tomb guardian whose hands once held weaponry that is now lost. The warrior’s fierce expression is characterized by deeply set, bulging eyes, curling eyebrows, prominent nose, and a lower jaw that stretches the face into a frown. Brush lines delineate a fine mustache on the upper lip.

The figure is related to the four Heavenly Kings (tianwang 天王). These were guardians believed to protect the cardinal directions, as seen on the top corners of the nearby Buddhist votive stele, and would have stood at the front of the tomb, flanking the deceased. The beautiful armor is decorated with blue-and-green acanthus scrolls; there is gold gilding on the chest as well as the waist band. Three beast masks are set at the waist and both shoulders. The skirt is overlaid by lamellar armor, that is, armor built of overlapping rows of small plates. The figure’s head and ears are covered by a leather helmet.

Chao-Hui Jenny Liu, Program Administrator,
East Asian Studies Program, Princeton University