Page 495 - The Golden Age of Chinese Archaeology: Celebrated Discoveries from the People’s Republic of China

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A group of five painted pottery female
musicians

Height 30.8 (12 Vs)-37 (13 y 2)
Tang Dynasty, early seventh century CE
From the tomb of Yu Yin and Princess Jinxiang,
Xi'an, Shaanxi Province
Xi'an Municipal Institute of Archaeology
and Preservation of Cultural Relics,
Shaanxi Province

Washington only

Among the mingqi found in Jinxiang's tomb was a
group of five female musicians mounted on horse-
1
back. While their features suggest Chinese ethnic-
ity, there is little in the figures' dress, musical
instruments, or implied approach to music that
relates to native Chinese traditions; to the contrary,
everything about them indicates the strong influ-
ence of Central Asia. The fascination with the
music of other cultures began in the Han dynasty
and continued through the Tang. Foreign music
from all parts of the known world was the rage
at the Tang court. Literary sources refer to perfor-
mances of music originating in Japan, Korea, and
many other areas; the most popular performers,
however, were those from Central Asia.
The horses depicted in this group are of a In contrast to later representations of women
large and spirited breed much sought after by (see cat. 173), these female figures are fairly thin,
the Chinese. Originating in the grasslands of the and their tight-fitting, belted tunics and trousers
Asian interior, such horses were much larger than are appropriate for riding. Painted patterns repre-
the pony native to China and were valued for their sent different types of fabric: one woman wears
speed and noble character. These qualities made a dark-colored garment (perhaps leather); another
the breed ideally suited for hunting as well as for wears a thick, short-sleeved jacket with intricate
battle (often against the same nomads from whom designs probably intended to represent a woven
they had been obtained). fabric. Their head gear is spectacular. The most
Watching the hunt was as much a spectator elaborate is a fantastic hat that sweeps up from one
sport as a participatory pastime for the Tang aris- woman's head to represent a large bird. Flaps, repre-
tocracy; the fact that the all men in this group senting the tail of the bird, cover the back of her
are foreigners may indicate that hunts were staged neck and upper shoulders, and the intricately
as a form of court entertainment. M K drawn patterns on the back of the hat suggest that
actual feathers were used to decorate such head-
i Excavated in 1991; reported: Xi'an 1997,14 -19. gear. The other women have their hair tied in

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