Chinese Statues

Whether for religious or auspicious reasons, Chinese figurines and statues served more than just decorative purpose. Common motifs include dragons, elephants, Buddhist deities, emperors, empresses, and foo dogs. These statues, carved from jade or wood or molded in ceramic or metal, were either placed in homes or given as gifts to bring good luck, harmony, and prosperity to a household.

Buddhist deities are often brought into a dwelling to serve are reminders. A Buddha or Bodhisattva might be placed in a room to aid the owner to enlightenment. These Buddhist deity sculptures can be accompanied by images of lions, which protect against evil. These lions, or foo dogs, are placed in front of a home to protect the household.

Quick Facts

• A popular motif in Chinese statues is the “ruji” or scepter. This ceremonial scepter, with its large cloud-shaped head and s-shaped curved tail, represents power and is thought to bring wealth
• The most valued medium to create Chinese statues with is jade. Thought to link body to spirit, jade is used in conjunction with the auspicious nature of other subjects in order to bring good luck to a person or home
• The Terracotta Army of more than eight thousand figures, discovered in 1974 and buried between 210-209 B.C., is perhaps the most significant archeological discovery of Chinese statues