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Five Millennia of Chinese…es of a Spritual Journey
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Five Millennia of Chinese Art: Images of a Spritual Journey.iso
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1994-11-29
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Pi-hsieh Jade Amulet
Han Dynasty
(206 B.C. - A.D. 220)
Height: 9.6 cm
Length: 13.2 cm
Width: 3.55cm
The name of this
fabulous beast is from
the Chinese pi-hsieh, "to
avoid evil"; it served as
an amulet for warding off
evil spirits. It was
often buried in the tombs
of nobles for this purpose
during the Han dynasty.
Shaped much like a toy, it
was also presented as a
talisman to relatives and
friends. Shown here is a
winged pi-hsieh rendered
in gray-green jade with
yellowish-brown mottling.
Its head is tilted back
and somewhat to the side,
its back arched and tail
switching in a grand and
lively pose. The haunches
are tensed, the eyes wide
and alert, the pointed
snout raised to the scent;
the menacing jaws let out
a warning growl to some
lurking foe.