Chinese History: Tang Dynasty
Introduction
In ancient China, people often believed that one had to furnish their tomb with the things that were of essence to their status in the afterlife. As such, the people created animal and human figures that served as supernatural guardian figures to ward off the evil spirits. Some of those objects included the Bactrian camel, mirror with a hunting scene, the Uncharactered Tablet made by emperor Wu Zetian. I have chosen to analyze the Uncharactered Tablet, Bactrian Camel, and the mirror with a hunting scene all from the Qianling Museum in that they showcase the significance of social status in the Tang dynasty and the significance of the tradition of inhumation. The Bactrian Camel, the mirror, and the Uncharactered Tablet are historical relics that showcase the significance of inhumation and social status in the Tang dynasty.
The Bactrian camel was made as an inhumation object particularly for the wealthy in the Tang dynasty. In ancient days, camels were used for transportation and often symbolized the success of the Silk Route. By analyzing the camel, one can notice that its neck is reared proudly or painfully as though to complain with its mouth open and bared teeth. The camel is well ornamented with a tricolor of a splash of cream, amber and green. The cream glaze has run though its back as though to create the impression of imperfection and tasking duties. From the look of it, the camel is fine and creatively carved; one can assume that it was made from expensive material and the target market was mainly prosperous merchants, officers in high ranks or aristocrats. As such, it is safe to assume that the camel was a depiction of social status and a tool of inhumation that was meant to help the dead through the world of the world. The fact that the tool was used for high-ranking individuals in the society during burial is a perfect depiction of the social status and the significance of inhumation during burial.
Similar to the Bactrian camel, is the Uncharactered Tablet that has since been “charactered” by people who inscribed on it. Initially, the tablet read, “My achievements and errors must be evaluated by later generations, therefore carve no characters on my stele.” The monument was constructed from stone and was adorned with the features of oysters and dragons which were interpreted to represent the elements of water, earth, stone, and air. The stone represented the earth unto which the dead returned, the dragons represented the element of fire, oysters the element of water, and the height of the structure represented the element of air according to Buddhist beliefs. This tool is a representation of the theme of social status and the importance of legacy upon one’s death. The elements represented were probably made to showcase the aspect of harmony in the world of the dead and inherent power in the invisible. According to Buddhist beliefs, it is through death that one attains harmony with all that is and the fact that flourishment and sustenance of life is achieved through these elements gave Zetian a reason to honour them through the stele. According to me, this could also have served as a preparation towards her death and the need to live behind an indelible mark in the dynasty. The extravagance of the tablet and its “uncharactered” state can be assumed to depict the high social status of Emperor Wu Zetian and the assumption of her renowned status and significance that needs not to be written.
Mirrors in ancient China were often used for both spiritual and practical purposes. One of these mirrors is the above-shown bronze mirror with hunting scenes that can be assumed as a representation of social status and inhumation since it was often used in tombs to ward off evil spirits. Bronze was considered a precious component in the ancient world and often served essential affairs of the state, both at war and in rituals. Its significance as a ritual object was often assumed as a tool that provided one entry into heaven. The symbolism of a hunting scene with hunters chasing animals was probably meant to represent the universe and the desire of humanity to chase after them in order to acquire the power of the universe and achieve protection from evil.
In conclusion, it is evident that the significance of the people in the Tang dynasty was often determined by their rank in society. As such, cultural artefacts such as Bactrian camel and the mirror with a hunting scene showed one’s status which was assumed in their afterlife which was probably dependent on the things placed in their burial chambers. As such, the people with high status afforded expensive bronze mirrors and Bactrian camels that warded off evil spirits thus guiding them to heaven. As shown in the Emperor’s monument, her status was represented through a tall standing concrete stele that adorned elements of life as a preparation for the after-life. As such, it is thus safe to say that historical relics and tools used in burial chambers denoted class and social status, which was considered of importance both in life and in death.