Warrior on horseback,

early 6th century

During the Period of Disunity, the most powerful dynasty in northern China was the Northern Wei (386–535). It was founded by the Tuoba clan of the Xianbei, a federation of nomadic tribes from the Steppe region north of China. The Tuoba tactically adopted customs of their southern neighbors, including a Chinese-style administrative bureaucracy to run their government and Chinese names for members of their aristocracy. The lands ruled by the Tuoba included important trade routes that linked China with Central Asia and regions further west, sustaining the fortunes of the dynasty and bringing diverse goods and peoples to Northern Wei cities.

This remarkable tomb retinue—composed of attendants, soldiers, horsemen, court officials, bearded foreigners with heavily laden camels, and ensembles of musicians—forms a rich portrait of Northern Wei society. The large assemblage, indicative of the tomb occupant’s high rank, also includes early examples of tomb-guardian figures. The two large creatures sitting on their haunches, along with the oversized civilian officials and armored warriors, symbolically protected the deceased. Figures of chickens, pigs, rams, and geese were included as representations of the abundance to be enjoyed in the afterlife.