Tang ceramic production reached its peak with terracotta moulded zoomorphic and anthropomorphic figures, known in Chinese as mingqi. Such statuettes would have been placed in Chinese graves, to assist, protect and entertain the deceased in the afterlife. Figures of musicians were especially popular, as they served to entertain the deceased in the afterlife. The art of dance in China reached a peak during the Tang Dynasty, which was the golden age of Chinese music and dance. The Great Music Bureau was set up to oversee the training and performances of music and dance in the imperial court, and the Drums and Pipes Bureau was responsible for ceremonial music.
To discover more about Tang statuettes, please visit our relevant blog post: Terracotta Tomb Attendants.