A Showcase of Museums of Ancient China——铜獬豸

I came to the National Museum just to catch a glimpse of this Han Dynasty "铜獬豸" artifact exhibited here from the Gansu Provincial Museum. The lighting makes it appear even more magnificent than it did at the Gansu Provincial Museum.

This "铜獬豸" was unearthed in 1956 from Han tomb No. 18 in Xiaheqing, Jiuquan City, Gansu. Although it is merely a simple bronze figure, with legs made only of thin bronze sheets, a few deft strokes perfectly convey the heroic spirit of this divine beast: head bowed, chest thrust forward, neck towering, horn erect, and broad tail lifted—a posture poised for battle, exuding tension and readiness.

Perhaps only the Han Dynasty could have produced such a masterpiece. Indeed, the less technical skill involved, the higher the artistic value. With every reduction of superfluous detail, its divine essence increases.