Image: China, probably Shaanxi province, Xi'an, Tang dynasty - Tomb Guardians - 2000.118 - Cleveland Museum of Art
![China, probably Shaanxi province, Xi'an, Tang dynasty - Tomb Guardians - 2000.118 - Cleveland Museum of Art](/images/thumb/7/7f/China%2C_probably_Shaanxi_province%2C_Xi%27an%2C_Tang_dynasty_-_Tomb_Guardians_-_2000.118_-_Cleveland_Museum_of_Art.tif/426px-China%2C_probably_Shaanxi_province%2C_Xi%27an%2C_Tang_dynasty_-_Tomb_Guardians_-_2000.118_-_Cleveland_Museum_of_Art.tif.jpg)
Description: With their fierce expressions and exaggerated physical features, these two fantastic guardian creatures were intended to guard the entrance to a tomb, warding off evil as well as keeping the soul of the deceased from wandering. Known as "earth spirits" or qitou, they are markedly different in appearance: one has an animal face and a pair of antlers growing above its eyebrows; the other sports a human face with huge protruding ears and a short horn surrounded by fiery, twisting hair. Their many elongated spikes heighten the fearful intensity.
Title: Tomb Guardians
Credit: https://clevelandart.org/art/2000.118
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Zero, Public Domain Dedication
License: CC0
License Link: http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en
Attribution Required?: No
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