Tomb figure of a mythical tricorn animal

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONThis clay model of a mythical beast guarded a Han dynasty tomb in China from evil spirits and from anyone who might try to break in and steal the treasures. It is called a qilin, pronounced “chee-lynn.”WHERE WAS IT MADE?This model was made in what is now China during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). The general location was Luoyang, Henan Province in Central China.WHEN WAS IT MADE?During the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) the people of China established the Silk Road, a trade route that linked China to the Roman Empire. They formed strong political alliances abroad while inventing new technologies such as paper and lead-glazed ceramics at home.HOW WAS IT MADE?This model is made of clay. Many copies were made by pressing clay into the same mold over and over again. We can see traces of colored pigment on the surface of the mythical beast that reveal it was originally painted with designs that have worn off over the years.Objects that are made to use in the afterlife are called mingqi (ming chi). The artists who made mingqi in ancient China worked together in workshops. Several clay pieces are joined together to make a complex sculpture, such as a horse.HOW WAS IT USED?The qilin was placed in a tomb as a guardian figure meant to ward off evil and protect the contents of the tomb. Tombs served as a house for the spirit of the deceased. They were filled with objects to provide for the spirit and prevent the spirit from turning into a ghost that would harass the living. Many of the funerary practices of the Han were adopted from the preceding Bronze Age. Han tombs provide us with a wealth of information about daily life and social practices because people from all social classes—not just imperial families—constructed tombs filled with objects from their lives. Imperial tombs were large-scale projects that took many years to build—often, emperors began work on their tombs in the second year of their reigns and reserved one-third of their personal treasury for the construction. More modest tombs consisted of several chambers built into the earth with stone tiles, each filled with objects for entertainment, feasting, housing, and protection. Painted on the walls are scenes from daily life, memorials of the deceased, and funeral processions.WHY DOES IT LOOK LIKE THIS?Guardian figures, like this qilin, often combine parts of several animals in one body. A qilin is a mythical creature that is part deer, part dragon, and part lion. It is sometimes shown with flames coming out of its spine. Qilin are peaceful creatures that only attack those who have done wrong or evil deeds. The strong, muscular body type is similar to a rhinoceros, with its thick armored skin and horns. Notice how it is crouched in a charging position, to ward off the forces of evil.Look at the fearsome spikes running down the creature’s neck. They may represent horns, a mane of pointy hair, or magical flames. In ancient China, many people believed that creatures like the rhinoceros or the unicorn had magical powers in their horns.Qilin, like dragons and lions, are still important creatures in the canon of Chinese animals.To see another type of guardian chimera in the Johnson Museum’s collection, search for object number 83.093.001 in the keyword search box.