Warrior
Chinese
Description
Subject Matter:
An earthenware straw-colored glazed mingqi (明器), or "bright object", figure of a military official of the Sui dynasty (581-617).
The presence of a military official within the tomb would offer protection to the deceased as well as indicate their wealth and high status. It would have been part of a larger set of figures that could have included civil officials, guardian figures, horses and grooms, camels and riders, generally all in pairs.
Since the Qin dynasty (221 - 206 BCE), ceramic figures have been used to replace human sacrifice in burial practices as a way to provide for the deceased. The number of ceramic mingqi items in a tomb could reach numbers of a few to several hundred objects.
Physical Description:
An earthenware standing figure of a military official or warrior, wearing armor that includes a helmet, elbow-length gauntlets, a cuirass with plaques, and taces, worn over a long tunic, loose pants, and boots. The arm is raised to hold a weapon. The top half is covered in a straw-colored glaze. One of a pair with 1997/2.25.
Usage Rights:
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.