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China: Detail of a Han-dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE) pottery tile emblematically representing the Azure Dragon of the East, Musee Cernuschi, Paris

A pottery tile of the Han Dynasty, depicting hunting and battle scenes containing emblematic figures of the 'five cardinal directions' (the four cardinal directions plus the centre). The Four Symbols (Chinese: ??; pinyin: Sì Xiàng) are four mythological creatures in the Chinese constellations. They are the Azure Dragon, of the East, the Vermilion Bird of the South, the White Tiger of the West, and the Black Turtle of the North. Each one of them represents a direction and a season, and each has its own individual characteristics and origins. Symbolically and as part of spiritual and religious belief, they have been culturally important in China, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan.

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Title: China: Detail of a Han-dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE) pottery tile emblematically representing the Azure Dragon of the East, Musee Cernuschi, Paris

Caption: A pottery tile of the Han Dynasty, depicting hunting and battle scenes containing emblematic figures of the 'five cardinal directions' (the four cardinal directions plus the centre). The Four Symbols (Chinese: ??; pinyin: Sì Xiàng) are four mythological creatures in the Chinese constellations. They are the Azure Dragon, of the East, the Vermilion Bird of the South, the White Tiger of the West, and the Black Turtle of the North. Each one of them represents a direction and a season, and each has its own individual characteristics and origins. Symbolically and as part of spiritual and religious belief, they have been culturally important in China, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan.

Credit: Album / Pictures From History/Universal Images Group

Releases: ? Model Release: No - ? Property Release: No
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Image size: 5100 × 2672 px | 39.0 MB

Print size: 43.2 × 22.6 cm | 2007.9 × 1052.0 in (300 dpi)

Keywords: ART • ARTS • ASIA IMAGE • ASIA IMAGES • ASIA PICTURES • ASIA • ASIAN IMAGE • ASIAN IMAGES • ASIAN PICTURES • ASIAN • AZURE DRAGON • CERAMIC • CERAMICS • CHINA • CHINA: HAN DYNASTY • CHINE • CHINESE • CLAY • FIVE CARDINAL DIRECTIONS • FOUR CARDINAL DIRECTIONS • HAN DYNASTY • HAN • HISTORIA UNIVERSAL • HISTORIA • HISTORICAL IMAGES • HISTORICAL PICTURES • HISTORICAL • HISTORY IMAGES • HISTORY PICTURES • HISTORY • HISTORY. • KERAMEIKOS • LEGEND • PORCELAIN • POTTERIES • POTTERY • STONEWARE • TERRA COTTA • TERRACOTA • TERRACOTTA • TILE