Archaeological Studies Of Tang Dynasty Acrobatic Figurines

This paper is focus on 28 figurines of acrobatic collected in the national scope of tombs and kilns of Tang Dynasty. We are talking about their characteristic, their styles, and issues beneath their surfaces.According to the records, acrobatics had several different names such as "sanyue" and "zaxi" in Tang Dynasty, and it included many different parts which were handstand, climbing up poles, wild animal trainer,dancing with plates, weight lifting, human pyramid and so on.Until now, archaeologists had already discovered about 28 pieces of figures belonged to acrobatics in Tang Dynasty, and they can be divided into 5 different types, including figures of handstand,climbing up poles, wild animal trainer,human pyramid and wrestling.According to the original reports we can sort these figures into three periods, among each period every figures had its speculations. For example, at the third period, figures of acrobatic were all about "three-colours" potteries and they were used to as tools for children’s leisure time. At the same time, figures of acrobatics populated in most time of Tang Dynasty, especially in the time emperor "xuanzong"(from Ad 685 to Ad 762), in addition, they were found in different provinces including ShaanXi, HeNan, SiChuan and Xinjiang.We also refer to several issues about this subject:Firstly, in view of these figures, their status can be recognized as they were probably used as toys or pastime for people in Tang Dynasty. Secondly,Of those who played acrobatic according to the figures, disabled people and patient can be found, they are the symbol of people in low status at that time, also the foreigners from other different countries can be distinguished from these figures; Finally, the contents of acrobatics of Tang Dynasty had handed down from Qin and Han Dynasties then spread to Song and Yuan Dynasties, in spit of some minor changes.