A Han Figure of a Reclining Dog

Han Dynasty, China, 206 BCE–220 CE Terracotta sculpture of a reclining dog created as a mingqi funerary object intended to accompany the deceased into the afterlife. Depicted in a calm yet alert posture, the figure symbolizes loyalty, guardianship, and protection within Han funerary culture. The figure is stylized but also lifelike. Its neck is unusually long and its ears are unusually large, suggesting both subservience and attentiveness. Pottery animal figures of this type were commonly placed in tombs to recreate the comforts and security of daily life beyond death. The expressive modeling and weathered green-glazed surface epitomize the enduring aesthetic of Han Dynasty burial ceramics.