During the T’ang Dynasty, the beloved status of
the camel ranked second only to the revered
horse. Camels symbolized commerce and its
associated wealth, largely concentrated on
profits through trading on the Silk Road. Trade
across this extensive network of paths and trails
brought prosperity, foreigner merchants, and
exotic merchandize into China. However, this
arduous journey through the jagged mountains
and rugged deserts of Central Asia could only be
undertaken by the two-humped Bactrian camel.
The dusty trails of the Silk Road could only be
traversed by the camel, a beast able to withstand
the scorching heat of the desert and to maintain
its own nutrients, surviving for months without
fresh supplies of water. The government kept
vast herds of these invaluable creatures,
presided over by civil officials, for hauling their
precious silk supplies across the Silk Road.
These exotic creatures were a common sight in
the cosmopolitan cities of T’ang China, carrying
both traders and their goods directly into the
markets. Likewise, T’ang artist began to create
charming representations of these prized
creatures as mingqi in order to symbolize wealth
and prosperity in the afterlife. Mingqi were
works of art specifically created in an ancient
Chinese custom for interment in the tombs of
elite individuals in order to provide for their
afterlife. Some of the most beautiful works of
Chinese art were excavated from such tombs,
and this Sancai glazed sculpture of a camel is a
perfect example of the refined artistry dedicated
to such works even though they were never
meant to be seen by the living. Featuring a
splendid saddle in the form of a stylized mask of
a snarling dragon, this gorgeous sculpture
reveals the T’ang Dynasty’s respect and
admiration for this magnificent creature.
- (H.678)
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