Seated figure, one of four

Tomb Figurines in Human Form

By the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE) human sacrifice was no longer part of the funerary ceremony, and clay models were buried instead. Most clay figurines represented the servants and protectors of the deceased, including warriors, entertainers, cooks, grooms, and maidservants of the court. A fascinating study of changes in fashion and ideals of feminine beauty can be made by examining these tomb models.

The human figurines in these tombs were arranged in a definite hierarchy. Models of servants and support staff were arranged along the floors and niches. Images of the deceased and his or her peers, as well as admired historical personalities and divine beings, were painted, carved in stone, or impressed in the clay tiles that made up the sarcophagus and the walls of the tomb chamber.