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Source Description
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 <em>qitou</em>,<em> or </em>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.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
161426
label
Tomb Guardians
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
161426
contentType
object
title
Tomb Guardians
description
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 <em>qitou</em>,<em> or </em>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.
date
early 700s
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q60751622
genreSpecific
Ceramic
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
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.)
cul
China, probably Shaanxi province, Xi'an, Tang dynasty (618-907)
accession
2000.118
Source extras
tec
glazed earthenware, sancai (three-color) ware
tombstone
Tomb 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
titleInOriginalLanguage
鎮墓獸
collection
China - Tang Dynasty
didYouKnow
<em>Sancai</em> (three-color) glazes in green, amber, and transparent white, plus expensive cobalt blue glaze, show the high social status of the tomb’s occupant.
citations
citation
Cleveland Museum of Art, “Tomb Guardian Pair from Tang Dynasty Acquired by CMA,” December 12, 2000, Cleveland Museum of Art Archives.
citation
May, Sally Ruth, Jane Takac, and Barbara J. Bradley. <em>Knockouts: A Pocket Guide</em>. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2001.
page_number
Reproduced: cat. no. 79, p. 74- 75; Mentioned: p. 119
citation
Franklin, David and C. Griffith Mann. <em>Treasures from the Cleveland Museum of Art</em>. Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2012.
page_number
Reproduced: pp. 74-75
citation
“A Selection of 2001 Museum Acquisitions.” <em>Apollo: The International Magazine of Art & Antiques</em> 154 (December 2001): 24–57.
page_number
p. 27
citation
"Major Acquisitions: 2000-2005." <em>Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine </em>45, no. 6 (July/August 2005): 6-19.
page_number
Mentioned: P. 7; Reproduced: P. 9
citation
Chung, Anita. "Chinese Masterworks." <em>Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine </em>53, no. 5 (September/October 2013): 14-15.
page_number
Mentioned and reproduced: P. 14
citation
Bidwell, Frederick E. and Leslie Cade. <em>The CMA Companion: A Guide to the Cleveland Museum of Art.</em> [Cleveland]: Cleveland Museum of Art; New York, NY: Scala Arts Publishers, 2014.
page_number
Mentioned and reproduced: P. 95
citation
Von Spee, Clarissa. "Good or Evil? Demons, ghosts, and goblins in Chinese art.” <em>Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine </em>vol. 64, no. 3 (2024): 10–11.
page_number
Reproduced and Mentioned: p. 10
creditline
Gift of various donors to the department of Asian Art (by exchange)
galleryDonorText
Clara T. Rankin Galleries of Chinese Art
updatedAt
2026-05-29 08:23:37.283000
sourceId
161426
dept
Chinese Art
coll
China - Tang Dynasty
med
glazed earthenware, sancai (three-color) ware
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
43d6af2472ebb71f