The Tang Dynasty was an era of unrivalled wealth an luxury. The country was successfully reunified and th borders were expanded, pushing Chinese influence int new lands. Confucianism became a quasi-religiou instrument of the state; yet Buddhism continued t flourish, spreading into Korea and Japan. The art reached new levels of sophistication. Poetry an literature flourished under the enlightened rulers.
The Silk Road brought fortunes into China. Preciou treasures were imported on the backs of camels fro far away lands and bartered for Chinese silk,
medicinal herbs, and pungent spices. Tang China was multicultural empire where foreign merchants fro across Central Asia and the Middle East settled in th urban centers, foremost among them the thrivin capital of Chang’an (modern Xi'an), a bustlin cosmopolitan center of over two million inhabitants.
Foreign traders lived next to native artisans and bot thrived. New ideas and exotic artistic forms followe alongside. The Tang Dynasty was a cultura renaissance where many of the forms and objects we no associate with China were first created. Moreover,
this period represents one of the greatest cultura outpourings in human history.
“The camel is an unusual domestic animal; it carries saddle of flesh on its back; swiftly it dashes ove the shifting sands; it manifests its merit i dangerous places; it has a secret understanding o springs and sources, subtle indeed is its knowledge.”
This quote by Guo Pu dates to the 3rd Century A.D. an reveals the extent to which the Chinese adulate camels. For the Chinese, these creatures symbolize the wealth and luxury that resulted from trading o the Silk Road. Commerce across this extensive networ of paths and trails brought prosperity, foreig merchants, and exotic merchandize into China. However,
the dusty trails of the Silk Road were an arduou journey through the rugged mountains and harsh desert of Central Asia that could only be traversed by th two humped Bactrian camel. This remarkable beast wa able to withstand the scorching heat of the desert an maintain its own nutrients, surviving for month without fresh supplies of water. The government kep vast herds of these invaluable creatures, preside over by civil officials, for hauling their preciou commodities across the Silk Road. These exoti creatures were a common sight in the cosmopolita cities of Tang China, carrying both traders and thei goods directly into the markets. Likewise, Tan artist began to create charming representations o these prized creatures as mingqi in order to symboliz continued wealth and prosperity throughout th afterlife.
During the Tang Dynasty, restrictions were placed o the number of objects that could be included in tombs,
an amount determined by an individual's social rank.
In spite of the limitations, a striking variety o tomb furnishings, known as mingqi, have bee excavated. Entire retinues of ceramic figures -animals, entertainers, musicians, guardians, etc. -were buried with the dead in order to provide for th afterlife. Some of the most beautiful works of Chines art were excavated from tombs, and this sculpture of camel is a gorgeous example of the refined artistry o works that they were never meant to be seen by th living. This recumbent camel has paused for a momen before returning on the arduous journey. The saddl is packed high with goods including rolled carpet possibly from Central Asia. A fur blanket wit engraved tufts of hair tops the bundle. The camel’ head is held high in the air, as if getting ready t stand. This sculpture reveals the Tang Dynasty’ respect and admiration for this beast of burden, s essential to the prosperity of Ancient China. This fine unglazed example would date back to the early Tang period, i.e. 7th century AD, when unglazed pottery figurines were still preferred to the later sancai glazed earthenware. Similar sculptures have been indeed unearthed throughout the Zhongyuan, prevalently in Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces, attesting to the lively and incompassed artistry of the early Tang potters.