Han Dynasty Figure of a Pig

This yellow pottery figure of a pig dates to China's Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). This was a symbol of prosperity and abundance. During the Han period, many artifacts and effigies were buried in preparation for the afterlife. The burial of genuine articles made from metal or stone were banned but clay replicas were permitted. According to Han belief, the collection of buried articles had to reflect and indicate the identity of the person buried in the tomb but did not need to be literally life-sized or functional. Consequently, potential grave-robbers had little incentive to take the risk and make the effort required. Many tombs collapsed over the centuries and others filled with mud. Many, however, remained intact and were only discovered in the 1990s and 2000s due to excavations for modern buildings.