西漢 四神陶瓦當―白虎|Roof tile end with tiger
Unknown Artist
Medium
Earthenware
Dimensions
Diam. 7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm); D. 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
China · Western Han dynasty (206 B.C.–A.D. 9)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1918
Accession Number
18.56.30
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite earthenware roof tile end known as a *watang*, hails from China's Western Han dynasty (206.C.–A.D. 9), a golden age of imperial expansion and cultural flourishing. Measuring just 7¼ inches in diameter, these circular tiles were essential architectural elements, fitted at the eaves of roofs to channel rainwater while adding protective symbolism. Crafted from clay and fired for durability, this piece features the fierce White Tiger (*Bai Hu*), one of the Four Symbols (*Si Shen*)—mythical guardians of the cardinal directions rooted in ancient Chinese cosmology. The White Tiger, as...