Tricolor camel

[Tri-color camel]

Tri-color camel, Tang Dynasty, 87 cm high and 82 cm long
This is a bactrian camel. Silk and water bottles are hung on the pack bag between the two peaks
The face pattern on the pack bag used to be called tiger face pattern. In the fourth volume of the Youyang Zazu, Duan Chengshi of the Tang Dynasty, it said: “The Turks are the Zoroastrian gods, there is no temple, the felt is carved into a shape, and it is stored in a leather bag, and the place of action is painted with fat.” Mr. Jiang Boqin believed that the “stored in a leather bag” should be related to the pattern on the pack bag, so this pattern should not be called the tiger face pattern, but the fire zoroastrian god
The Silk Road from Chang’an to the Western Regions is an important transportation link for China’s foreign trade. Camels with the reputation of “the boat of the desert” are not only the mounts of businessmen and passengers, but also the vehicles of goods and materials. The tricolor camels, with their necks open and their arms and legs moving, vividly represent the true situation of the camel caravan on the Silk Road, which is not afraid of difficulties and dangers, and has traveled a long distance. The camel is tall, with accurate expression and bright glaze. It can be regarded as a good example of large animal sculpture in the Tang Dynasty
This three-color camel was donated by Mr. Zheng Zhenduo to the Palace Museum. At that time, Mr. Zheng could not put it down. However, the seller’s asking price of 12 liang of gold made Mr. Zheng, who had only 10 liang of gold, only buy it in debt. In 1952, with the approval of Premier Zhou Enlai, the state repaid the debt on behalf of the people, which made this national treasure really return to the hands of the people.