Tomb Guardians, early 700s. With their fierce expressions and exaggerated physical features, these two fantastic guardian 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 "earth spirits" or qitou , they are markedly different in appearance: one has an animal face and a pair of antlers growing above its eyebrows; the other sports a human face with huge protruding ears and a short horn surrounded by fiery, twisting hair. Their many elongated spikes heighten the fearful intensity.

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Size: 4911px × 6901px
Photo credit: © Heritage Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -colour, 618-907, art, ceramic, china, cleveland, dynasty, earthenware, glazed, heritage, museum, province, sancai, shaanxi, tang, unknown, ware, xian