During the Tang 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 merchandise 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 Tang China,
carrying
both traders and their goods directly
into the
markets. Likewise, Tang 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 Tang Dynasty’s respect and
admiration for this magnificent
creature.
- (H.678)
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