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During the Tang Dynasty, restrictions were
placed on the number of objects that could be
included in tombs, an amount determined by an
individual's social rank. In spite of the
limitations, a striking variety of tomb
furnishings, known as mingqi, have been
excavated. Entire retinues of ceramic figures -
animals, entertainers, musicians, guardians -
were buried with the dead in order to provide for
the afterlife. Of the various types of mingqi,
there is perhaps none more charming than the
beautiful sculptures of elegant female courtiers,
sometimes known as “Fat Ladies” for their fleshy
faces. These gorgeous women reflect the
appreciation of the female form during the Tang
Dynasty.
This sophisticated woman provided
eternal
companionship for her lord throughout the
afterlife. We can imagine her gracefully dancing
or singing a poetical song, two popular customs
for ladies during the Tang Dynasty. Such
courtiers are described in the numerous love
poems written during this era, considered a
golden age of Chinese culture. She has
her hair styled in a sophisticated coiffure that
crown her heads while she wears an elegant
long-
sleeved robe typical of the time period. A
remarkable
amount of the original pigment that once
decorated the work remains intact, most
noticeable on the floral motifs that decorate the
dress as well as her rosy cheeks and lips.
Such women may represent wives, princesses, or
attendants. Her beauty inspires us as we are
transported back to another time. This gorgeous
sculpture has been to the next world and
returned to our modern era to tell us her tale.
They speak of the enormous wealth and
sophisticated culture of the Tang Dynasty, one of
the greatest periods of artistic creation in human
history.
- (DL.2075)
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