A Standing Ritual Figure

Han Dynasty, China, 206 BCE–220 CE Standing terracotta figure portrayed with stylized facial features and an elaborate horned headdress or mask suggestive of theatrical, ritual, or protective symbolism. Sculptures of this type were created as mingqi funerary objects intended to guard and accompany the deceased in the afterlife. The exaggerated expression and textured surface reflect the imaginative character of Han burial art, where human and supernatural imagery were often combined within ceremonial and tomb-related traditions. The expressive modeling emphasizes the symbolic and spiritual dimension of Han Dynasty funerary sculpture.