Luoyang Terracotta Figurine

Author: Yu Lianggeng
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-05-01
Features: ★16-inch hardcover, copperplate printing ★Selected over 400 clay figurines, diverse in type and form ★Arranged chronologically, from the Western Han Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty ★Categorized based on the preservation status of their decorations ★All published clay figurines are annotated with author names, article titles, publications, and dates
The region of Luoyang is located north of the Taihang Mountains, south of the Funiu Mountains, east of Mount Songshan, and west of the western section of the Funiu Mountains. Surrounded by mountains on all sides, the Yi, Luo, Chan, and Jian rivers flow through it. The land is fertile and abundant in resources. Throughout China's 5,000-year history, Luoyang has been a significant historical stage. From the Xia Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, nine dynasties established their capitals here, earning it the title of "Ancient Capital of Nine Dynasties." Luoyang boasts a long history, and as a result, numerous ancient tombs exist. From royal mausoleums and noble tombs to commoner burials, there are countless tombs, yielding tens of thousands of artifacts. Some items were practical for daily use, while others were replicas of burial objects to recreate reality. Clay figurines are among these burial objects. Generally, clay figurines refer to pottery-made human and animal burial objects. However, literature specifically defines "figurines" as human figures. In ancient times, figurines were not limited to pottery; they also included wooden, stone, lacquer, porcelain, and metal figurines. Among these, clay figurines are the most preserved and diverse, largely due to their convenient material sourcing, ease of firing, low cost, and long-term preservation capabilities.
The inclusion of clay figurines in ancient tombs is closely tied to the practice of sacrificing living people during funerals. Since the late Neolithic Age, China has had the custom of burying the deceased with human sacrifices, which peaked during the Shang Dynasty of the slave society but gradually declined in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. This decline was largely due to the opposition to human sacrifice, the promotion of human-centered values, and the elevated status of individuals. In their place, figurines representing human figures replaced live people as companions for the deceased. This marked a significant social progress, protecting the lives used for sacrifice while fulfilling the deceased's desire for companionship. From the Qin Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, the production and use of figurines reached their zenith, but they gradually declined after the Song and Yuan dynasties.
Clay figurines come in many types and are categorized differently based on various standards. By decorative techniques, they include plain clay figurines, painted figurines, glazed figurines, and tri-colored figurines. By social status, they include civil officials, ceremonial guards, warriors, attendants, entertainers, horse groomers, baggage carriers, fire starters, and rice millers. By racial features, they include Kunlun slaves and Central Asian figurines. Clay figurines are both burial objects and sculptural artworks. Their production involves multiple processes: selecting soil, washing, settling mud, shaping, refining, gluing, firing, coloring, and glazing. In shaping techniques, some are handcrafted, while others are mold-made; some are made in one piece, while others are assembled in parts; some require knife-shaving, while others rely on modeling. In sculpting techniques, some involve (nài sù - kneading), while others use chiseling; some are bold and rough, while others are delicate and detailed. In decorative art, some use single colors, while others use multiple colors; some employ minimal brushwork, while others use bold strokes; some use implied strokes, while others are meticulous; from glazes and pastels to tri-colored glazes, decorative art reached its peak.
This book collects over 400 clay figurines unearthed in the urban area and surrounding counties of Luoyang, arranged chronologically into three parts: the Han Dynasty, the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Each part is further categorized into plain clay, painted clay, glazed clay, and tri-colored figurines, with a brief description of each figurine below the corresponding image.