Ancient Pottery Figures

"Yong" refers to burial figurines specifically made for funerary purposes, often crafted from materials such as straw, wood, clay, and metal. Ancient Chinese people believed that souls existed after death and, like the living, they required clothing, food, shelter, and transportation. To meet the needs of the soul, burial figurines were created as symbolic objects representing their views on life and death.

Clay figurines are an important part of ancient Chinese sculptural art, first appearing as early as the Eastern Zhou period. By the Han and Tang dynasties, they had reached a mature form, becoming common burial objects as the practice of human sacrifice declined and funeral customs became more elaborate.

The museum’s collection of burial figurines consists mainly of painted figurines from the Han and Tang dynasties. These figurines, rich in rustic, everyday life elements and imbued with strong symbolic meaning, not only showcase the unique artistic charm of ancient Chinese sculpture but also depict the intricate and unique underworlds created for the deceased.

In this exhibition, the Aurora Museum invites you to delve into the stories behind these lively burial figurines. Each exhibit is a recreation of the ancient people's way of life, social structure, religious beliefs, and aesthetic values. They are not merely lifeless objects, but the crystallization of ancient emotions and wisdom. By observing and studying these painted figurines, we can draw closer to that distant and mysterious era and feel the cultural dialogue that transcends time and space.

The exhibition not only features exquisitely painted Han and Tang figurines but also incorporates modern technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), offering visitors an immersive experience. These technologies breathe new life into the rich cultural connotations and artistic charm of ancient times in the modern era. We warmly invite all who are interested in ancient Chinese culture and art to come and find resonance with the ancients and experience a dialogue of emotions and wisdom that spans millennia.