Title
Tomb tile with decoration of a man and tiger
5th century-6th century
Artists
Unknown Artist
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Details
- Other Title
- Tomb tile (Azure Dragon of the East decoration)
- Place where the work was made
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China
- Date
- 5th century-6th century
- Media category
- Ceramic
- Materials used
- earthenware, unglazed
- Dimensions
- 15.6 x 40.3 x 2.1 cm (irreg.)
- Credit
- Gift of Mr Sydney Cooper 1962
- Location
- Not on display
- Accession number
- EC25.1962
- Copyright
- Share
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About
A 'Yu Ren' (feathered man) with a pair of wings and large ears beckons a running dragon with split deer-like antlers, baring its teeth and fixing its gaze on the ladle held in the man's left hand. This brick is an example of tomb decorations depicting Daoist themes of immortality that began during the Warring States period (475 -221 BC) and remained very popular in burial practices until the 6th century AD. The dragon motif not only indicates the direction of East, but also serves as auspicious animal with its power to suppress evil and assist the deceased to reach paradise.
Asian Art Department, AGNSW, January 2012
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Places
Where the work was made
China
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Exhibition history
Shown in 5 exhibitions
An Englishman's Home, David Jones Ltd, Sydney, 1941 -
Chinese Ceramics, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 11 Aug 1965–12 Sep 1965
Early Chinese art, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 26 Feb 1983–08 May 1983
Dragon (2012), Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 18 Jan 2012–06 May 2012
Auspicious: Motifs in Chinese art, Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney, Sydney, 16 Nov 2020–15 May 2022
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Bibliography
Referenced in 2 publications
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Mr V V W Fretwell, Mr L G Harrison, Ivan McMeekin and J. Hepburn Myrtle (Compilators), Chinese ceramics, Sydney, 1965, 18. cat.no. 10
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Jackie Menzies, Early Chinese Art, Sydney, 1983, (illus.) not paginated. cat.no.XXII. See 'Further Information' for text.
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