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Tomb Guardians
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
With fierce expressions, elongated spikes, and exaggerated physical features, these two fantastic creatures were intended to guard the entrance to a tomb, warding off evil as well as keeping the soul of the deceased from wandering. Known as qitou , or earth spirits, both sculptures differ in appearance: one has an animal face, claws, and a pair of antlers; the other sports a human face with huge ears, hooves, and a short horn.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineTomb Guardians (鎮墓獸), early 700s. China, probably Shaanxi province, Xi'an, Tang dynasty (618-907). Glazed earthenware, sancai (three-color) ware; part 1: 92.3 x 43.8 x 41.9 cm (36 5/16 x 17 1/4 x 16 1/2 in.); part 2: 88.9 x 41 x 50.8 cm (35 x 16 1/8 x 20 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of various donors to the department of Asian Art (by exchange), 2000.118
