Jin Dynasty Terracotta Brick with Warrior Figure

Jin Dynasty, c. 1115–1234 AD, Shanxi Province, China

A finely modeled and exceptionally rare grey terracotta brick from the Jin Dynasty, depicting a formidable warrior in full armor. The unglazed brick presents a rectangular full-body relief of a standing soldier, wearing a traditional two-piece lamellar armour, complete with a plumed helmet that protects the sides and back of the head. His fish-scale cuirass features articulated sleeves, a high collar, and flared shoulder guards, with protective chaps below. The warrior’s left hand grasps a long implement—likely a spear or lance—while the right, pierced through, would once have held an additional weapon or attribute.

The facial features are rendered with remarkable nuance: wide almond-shaped eyes under arched brows, a pointy nose, fine moustache, and a small pointed beard—all enlivened with traces of black, white, brown, and red pigments. His expression, both fierce and composed, embodies the Confucian martial virtues of loyalty, discipline, and courage. The exceptional craftsmanship and individualized modelling suggest the piece may have been commissioned for a noble family or high-ranking military patron, emphasizing its ceremonial or commemorative purpose.

The Jin Dynasty, established by the Jurchen tribes of Manchuria, rose to dominance in the 12th century after defeating the Mongolic Liao and the Northern Song. They ruled northern China and adopted many elements of Han Chinese culture, presiding over a period of artistic vitality in which music, theatre, and funerary art thrived. Since the mid-20th century, more than a hundred Jin tombs have been excavated in southern Shanxi Province, many adorned with painted and sculpted bricks depicting courtly scenes, entertainers, and guardians such as this striking warrior—testaments to the dynasty’s dynamic synthesis of martial and artistic traditions.

Good condition. Intact with no restorations. Minor chips to the figure’s nose and along the periphery of the brick. Surface wear consistent with age and use. Exceptional retention of original pigment still visible. Areas of mineral encrustation, soil, and dust present. Size approx. 34,0cm x 17,0cm x 6,0cm.

Provenance: British private collection; acquired abroad and imported into England during the 1960s.

References and further reading:

Theater, Life, & The Afterlife: Tomb Décor Of The Jin Dynasty From Shanxi, Shi Jinming & Willow Weilan Hai Chang, Hai Weilan Paperback, 172 Pages, Published 2012 by Science Press