A Terracotta Figure of a Bull

Bull Figure, Han Dynasty, China, 206 BCE–220 CEThis terracotta figure depicts a bull standing quietly at rest, modeled with the restrained naturalism and balanced proportions characteristic of Han Dynasty funerary sculpture. The animal is shown in a calm stance with its head gently inclined to one side, conveying both strength and composure. Apertures in the head once accommodated separately carved wooden horns, now lost, while a further opening at the rear originally held a wooden tail. Such mixed-media construction reflects the ingenuity of Han artisans, who frequently combined ceramic and organic materials to enhance realism. Created as a mingqi, or spirit object, the sculpture was intended to accompany the deceased into the afterlife. Bulls held a central place in Han agricultural society, where they served as indispensable sources of labor and symbols of prosperity, productivity, and rural stability. Figures of livestock were commonly included in tomb assemblages to ensure the continuation of earthly wealth and sustenance beyond death.