2-730-121 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Funerary Urn (Hunping), late 200s. Green-glazed stoneware developed greater variety in the south after the Han dynasty. Large funerary urns known as hunping, or "the urn of the soul," are evidence for its prolific production. This type of urn features multistoried towers populated by human figures, animals, and birds. It was likely associated with the southern funerary tradition of "summons of the soul." The wandering soul of the deceased was summoned to return. The urn with architectural designs (sometimes with grains placed inside) provided a safe place of refuge.