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HOME :
Chinese Art :
Song Dynasty : Relief Panel Depicting an Attendant
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Relief Panel Depicting an Attendant - H.657
Origin: China
Circa: 960
AD
to 1279
AD
Dimensions:
16.75" (42.5cm) high
Collection: Chinese
Medium: Terracotta
Additional Information: SOLD
$9,000.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
The Sung (Song) Dynasty partially
reunified China after a period of
chaotic turmoil following the fall of
the T’ang. Historically, the Sung are
noted for their revival of the ancient
Confucian beliefs, ushering a period
known as Neo-Confusianism that would
dominate Chinese (and later on Japanese)
thought for the next several centuries.
Although best known for their
philosophical contributions, this relief
panel attests to the rich artistic
tradition that flourished under the
enlightened rulers of the Sung Dynasty.
Discovered buried inside a tomb, this
gorgeous figurative panel, sculpted in
high relief, depicts a beautiful female
attendant patiently awaiting the command
of her master. Her hair is elegantly
modeled and she features a sweetly
smiling visage that reveals the
influence of T’ang statuary on the art
of the Sung Dynasty. The woman is
draped in a cloth robe that hangs down
to her feet; the curved tips of her
shoes are visible protruding at the
bottom. She presents us with a tray of
assorted foods that were meant for
consumption in the afterlife. Thus this
attendant would have continued to serve
her master even after his earthly
demise. That tradition of elaborate
burial tombs containing treasures from
life and sculpted replica of courtly
entourages dates back to the earliest
dynasties of China. By the time of the
Han (206 B.C.-220 A.D.), this practice
had become entrenched in Chinese
culture. These elaborate burials
reflect the ancient philosophical and
religious beliefs that the afterlife was
an extension of our earthly existence.
While this panel might have been
interred more as a traditional custom
than as an otherworldly servant, such
work reveals the tremendous artistic
heritage of China. This work is created
out of an age-old tradition assuring
that the deceased was welcomed into the
next world and well provided for. With
gorgeous surroundings such as this
panel, what more could one ask for to be
ushered into the afterlife?
- (H.657)
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