Terracotta figurines (tao yong 陶俑), finely executed in great detail, were frequently found in Han Dynasty tombs as grave goods (ming qi 冥器). Likely with the intention to ensure companionship and service to the tomb owners in the afterlife. The art of the Han Dynasty is largely decorative, a shift away from the functional, ritualistic art of the previous Qin Dynasty. They reflect numerous facets of Han Dynasty life from agricultural work, fishing, archery, domestic activities to musical performances and banquets. Mingqi were also modelled as an intimation of either common objects that once played a vital role in domestic life, or as zoomorphic and anthropomorphic figures that were closely related to the deceased when they were alive. The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China (206 BC–220 AD), and its art is notable for aiming to give form to everyday people and objects. It was a period of significant economic growth, and this facilitated discovery and innovation: technical possibilities in the arts increased as a result, enabling artists to push boundaries.
To discover more about Chinese terracotta statuettes, please visit our relevant blog post: Terracotta Tomb Attendants
