Model of a temple, one of a set of three parts

Temples dedicated to the ox or the dragon were erected all over China, in the belief that these sacred and powerful animals would overcome the evil spirits that disturb nature. This temple model consists of three parts. The tile rows on the upper story represent an overlapping wooden shingle roof on a central hall enclosed on four sides by walls, with corridors on two sides. The lower story of this same structure contains a tablet with an inscription which reads "in the second year of the Chongzhen period (1629), dedicating this liuli to the two halls: the ox-king and the white-dragon, cordially made by Fan Wenxiu and Zhang Chonglu." The pedestal is decorated with rectangular openings on the edge of the balustrade and the base, lotus shaped column support the four corners with lobed panels below. Bearing similarities to the previous piece (cat. no. 496), the heavy body of this work is glazed with yellow, turquoise-blue, and purple passages.