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What kinds of people and animals appeared in Tang tomb figurines?

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Chinese sculpture during the Han dynasty examined — Chinese art A discussion of Chinese art, from the documentary *China: West Meets East at the Metropolitan Museum of Art*.

Tang tomb figurines, known as mingqi, were crafted to provide the deceased with a familiar environment in the afterlife. These clay figures depicted a wide variety of people and animals reflecting the social and cultural life of the Tang dynasty.12

Human Figures

The human figurines represented diverse roles within society, including:
* Servants and Entertainers: These included graceful female dancers, musicians, and actors.2
* Foreigners: Reflecting the cosmopolitan nature of the era, there were many figurines of Central Asian grooms and Semitic merchants, often depicted with caricatured features such as deep-set eyes and jutting noses.2
* Courtly Life: Exotic troupes of dancing girls were a popular subject for reproduction in clay.3

Animal Figures

Animals were also prominent in tomb assemblages, often modeled with great spirit and detail:
* Camels: The Bactrian camel was a particularly impressive subject, sometimes reaching nearly three feet in height. Some glazed camels were depicted carrying groups of four or five musicians and singers on their backs.24
* Horses: The Bactrian pony was frequently represented in various spirited poses, reflecting the importance of military steeds and recreational activities like polo during the period.243