Tang dynasty figure
- Gallery: Room 33
- Culture: Tang dynasty
- Date: 728 (Date recorded for the death of general Liu Tingxun.)
- Object type: figure
- Materials: earthenware
- Museum number: 1936,1012.222
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
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About this object
Before you stands a Tang dynasty figure of a "lokapala," a Buddhist guardian. This deity is depicted standing on a bull, a visual symbol of strength and protection. The figure is created from green and brown glazed earthenware, part of a group of "sancai" tomb figures known for their vivid glazes.
This work was made around 728 AD in Luoyang and was originally discovered in the tomb of General Liu Tingxun. The group of figures that includes this "lokapala" represents a mix of protective deities and civil officials placed at the tomb entrance to guard the deceased.
These figures were glazed with a special mix of metal oxides that transformed into striking shades of yellow, green, brown, and blue during firing. The rich colors not only enhanced the visual appeal but also carried significance in their protective role.
This piece came to the museum in 1936 and continues to offer a glimpse into Tang dynasty funerary practices and artistic expression.
See it in person
Tang dynasty figure is on display in Room 33 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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