Statue, Tomb Sculpture - C656 | Collections

Object Number:	C656
Current Location:	China Gallery Currently On Display
Culture:	Chinese
Provenience:	China Hebei Neiqiu County
Period:	Northern Wei Dynasty
Date Made:	4th-5th Century
Early Date:	300
Late Date:	499
Section:	Asian
Materials:	Stone
Technique:	Carved
Iconography:	Qilin
Height:	152.4cm
Length:	208.3cm
Width:	78.4cm
Credit Line:	Purchased from C. T. Loo, 1927

Description

One of a pair of colossal stone qilins (C656 and C657). Male. The qilin is a mythical animal primarily containing lion and dragon features. Qilin are often placed in pairs at the beginning of a pathway that leads to a burial mound. Depicted in a running motion, this qilin and its female counterpart demonstrate strength and power through emphasis on muscle. It was believed that they would enhance the dignity of the tomb, glorify the memory of the deceased and protect against evil spirits. This piece has one horn and a beard falling onto its chest. The legs, tail, and ears are broken and partly missing.

Current & Past Exhibitions:

	Chinese Rotunda (1968)	View Objects in Exhibition
	Chinese Halls (1941 - 1966)	View Objects in Exhibition

Bibliography:

	[Article] Till, Barry. 1980. Some Observations on Stone Winged Chimeras at Ancient Tomb Sites. Artibus Asiae. 42 (4): pp. 261-281. : Page/Fig./Plate: Fig. 14a,b	View Objects related to this Bibliographic Reference
	[Book] Horne, Lee C. 1985. Introduction to the Collections of The University Museum. : Page/Fig./Plate: 59	View Objects related to this Bibliographic Reference
	[Article] Jayne, Horace H. F. 1941. The Chinese Collections of The University Museum: A Handbook of the Principal Objects. The University Museum Bulletin. 9 (2-3) : Page/Fig./Plate: Fig. 3	View Objects related to this Bibliographic Reference
	[Article] Jayne, Horace H. F. 1939. Chinese Art at the University Museum. Parnassus. 11 (1) : Page/Fig./Plate: Illustration	View Objects related to this Bibliographic Reference
	[Book] March, Benjamin. 1929. China and Japan in our Museums. : Page/Fig./Plate: 87	View Objects related to this Bibliographic Reference
	[Article] Siren, Osvald. 1928. Winged Chimeras in Early Chinese Art. Eastern Art. Volume I (No. 2): 86-96. : Page/Fig./Plate: 86-96, Plates 9, 10	View Objects related to this Bibliographic Reference
	[Article] Fernald, Helen E. 1927. Two Colossal Stone Chimeras from A Chinese Tomb. The Museum Journal. Volume XVIII (No. 2): 159-173. : Page/Fig./Plate: 159-173	View Objects related to this Bibliographic Reference