Supernatural Tomb Guard for the People of Chu: Wood Carving of Two-Headed Tomb Guard

The Warring States (475-221 B.C.)

Maximum Height: 170 cm

Excavated in 1978 from the No. 1 Tomb of Tian Xing Guan in Jiangling county, Hubei Province

Currently Housed in Jingzhou Museum

The tomb guards a two-headed face in opposite directions and are carved in the shape of a dragon’s head with large eyes and long tongues extending to the neck where the two heads join together. Each head has a pair of giant antlers which twist and tangle intricately and add an air of mystery and vividness to the whole image. The tomb guard is painted black and decorated with colorful patterns in various shapes such as clouds and a rhombus. This piece has the most spectacular and grotesque design among all the Chu tomb guards.