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The Han Dynasty, like the Zhou before it, is
divided into two distinct periods, the Western
Han (206 B.C.-9 A.D.) and the Eastern Han (23-
220 A.D.) with a brief interlude. Towards the
end of the Western period, a series of weak
emperors ruled the throne, controlled from
behind the scenes by Wang Mang and Huo
Guang, both relatives of empresses. They both
exerted enormous influence over the
government and when the last emperor suddenly
passed away, Mang became ruling advisor,
seizing this opportunity to declare his own
Dynasty, the Xin, or “New.” However, another
popular uprising began joined by the members
of the Liu clan, the family that ruled the Han
Dynasty, the Xin came to a quick end and the
Eastern Han was established in its place with its
capital at Loyang (Chang’an, the capital of the
Western Han, was completely destroyed).
However, even as Chinese influence spread
across Southeastern Asia into new lands, the
Eastern Han Dynasty was unable to recreate the
glories of the Western Period. In fact, this period
can be characterized by a bitter power struggle
amongst a group of five consortial clans. These
families sought to control the young, weak
emperors with their court influence. Yet, as the
emperors became distrustful of the rising power
of the clans, they relied upon their eunuchs to
defend them, often eliminating entire families at
a time. During the Western Han, the Emperor
was viewed as the center of the universe.
However, this philosophy slowly disintegrated
under the weak, vulnerable rulers of the Eastern
Han, leading many scholars and officials to
abandon the court. Eventually, the power of the
Han would completely erode, ending with its
dissolution and the beginning of the period
known as the “Three Kingdoms.”
Sculptures of pigs are frequently buried
alongside noble members of society during the
Han Dynasty. Sculpted in all media, the pig was
a symbol of wealth as well as a staple of the
menu for the afterlife. As was the custom,
sculpted effigies of animals were interred as
food sources in the next world. While some
animals were meant to labor in the next world,
others, such as this boar, were clearly meant for
consumption. The Han viewed the afterlife as an
extension of our earthly lives. Thus, the things
that we enjoyed in this world were continual
enjoyed in the next. Likewise, as humans
require food to nourish and sustain us while on
earth, sculpted animals were buried to provide
energy in the afterlife. This sculpture of a
standing pig is covered in a gorgeous green
glaze that has acquired a beautiful, soft
iridescent patina over the ages. Commonly
referred to as “silver frost,” this iridescence is the
result of wet and dry periods in a tomb whereby
the clay dissolves the lead glaze and redeposits
it on the surface, where it hardens. A testament
of age, this patina is also admired by collectors
for its charming aesthetic qualities, similar in
effect to mother of pearl. Originally, this pig was
created to provide sustenance in the next world.
However, today, it nourishes our eyes with its
tremendous beauty and fills our minds with its
tremendous cultural and historical value.
- (H.1007)
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