Pair of warriors

These warriors, whose non-Han features and grimaces are intended to be frightening, are clad in "shining armor" mingguangkai 明光鎧. This equipment developed at the end of the Eastern Han dynasty (25-220) takes its name from the breastplate, made up of one or two plates of beaten and polished metal, which reflected the light, hence its name “mirror(s) that protect(s) the heart” huxinjing 護心鏡. Developed during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), this armor is mentioned in Tang and Song (960-1279) written sources regarding the Kingdom of Wei 魏國 (222-265) in North China .

Similar funerary substitutes have been unearthed in several tombs datable to the second third of the 663th century both in Luoyang 洛陽 in Henan (the Eastern Capital 東都), and around Xi'an 西安 in Shaanxi (main capital then called Chang 'an 長安). They do not seem to have played the role of guardians of the tomb but rather that of personal guards of the deceased. In the tomb of General Zheng Rentai 鄭仁泰 (d. XNUMX) located in the sub-prefecture of Liquan 禮泉縣 (Shaanxi) for example, they had been placed in the third left and right niches flanking the access corridor , that is to say in the center of the funerary complex.

Poster:

Pair of warriors
Tang dynasty (618-907), circa 640-665
China, Shaanxi or Henan
Terracotta coated with opaque glaze, cold painted decoration enhanced with gold leaf
H.48 cm; L.11,4 cm; D. 13,1 cm and H. 47,3 cm; L.12,3 cm; D.12,5 cm
MC 2006-72 and MC 2006-73

Gift of the Society of Friends of the Cernuschi Museum, 2006

Photo credit :

Two warriors. Polychromed terracotta with traces of gold. China, Sui dynasty. Paris, Cernuschi Museum.

Warrior (Usage name), 600. Molded terracotta, pigments and gilding. Cernuschi Museum, Museum of Asian Arts of the City of Paris.