TANG DYNASTY (AD 618-907)

The strange physical forms and fierce expressions of these powerfully modeled figures were intended to emphasize their power over evil. Such figures always display commanding physiques with barrel-like chests and fierce expressions – in keeping with their role as powerful protectors - and each pair is made up of two distinct types. One of each pair has a snarling animal head, with prominent canine teeth and a rather leonine muzzle topped by a pair of curved horns. The horns often have additional sharp protuberances on the lower part at the front, as in the case of the current figure. The other figure in the pair has an almost human face, topped by what looks like either a long plume of hair or a long single, spiraled, horn and with large ears on either side of the head. This creature has cloven hooves and sits on its haunches with its front legs straight and firmly planted in front of it.

An earth spirit similar to the current figure with the leonine face is illustrated in The Tsui Museum of Art - Chinese Ceramics I: Neolithic to Liao, Hong Kong, 1993, no. 120.