During the Tang Dynasty the beloved status
of
the camel ranked second only to the revered
horse. Camels symbolized commerce and its
associated wealth, largely concentrated on
profits through trading on the Silk Road.
Trade
across this extensive network of paths and
trails
brought prosperity, foreign merchants and
exotic
merchandize into China. However, this
arduous
journey through the jagged mountains and
rugged deserts of Central Asia could only be
undertaken by the two-humped Bactrian
camel.
The animal was able to withstand the
scorching
heat of the desert and to maintain its own
nutrients, surviving for months without fresh
supplies of water. The government kept vast
herds of these invaluable creatures, presided
over by civil officials, for hauling their
precious
silk supplies across the Silk Road. These
exotic
creatures were a common sight in the
cosmopolitan cities of Tang China, carrying
both
traders and their goods directly into the
markets.
Likewise, Tang artists began to create
charming
representations of these prized creatures as
mingqi in order to symbolize wealth and
prosperity in the afterlife. Mingqi were works
of
art specifically created in an ancient Chinese
custom for interment in the tombs of elite
individuals in order to provide for their
afterlife.
Some of the most beautiful works of Chinese
art
were excavated from such tombs, and this
Sancai
glazed sculpture of a camel is a perfect
example
of the refined artistry dedicated to such
works
even though they were never meant to be
seen
by the living. Featuring a splendid saddle in
the
form of a stylized mask of a snarling
creature,
this gorgeous sculpture reveals the Tang
Dynasty’s respect and admiration for this
magnificent creature.
- (DL.999 B)
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