唐代 Civil Official Statuettes are sculptures or funerary figurines modeled after central or local civil officials of the Tang Dynasty, commonly found in Tang-era tombs. These statuettes offer a vivid and authentic depiction of the Tang Dynasty’s bureaucratic system, hierarchical attire, and social customs, serving as invaluable physical evidence for studying Tang Dynasty politics and ritual practices.

II. Iconographic Characteristics

Overall, Tang Dynasty civil official statuettes exhibit a dignified and solemn aesthetic, with figures typically depicted holding their hands in a modest gesture of prayer or reverence at the chest, or letting them hang naturally at their sides. Their expressions are both solemn and self-assured, perfectly capturing the authority and cultivated demeanor expected of civil officials. The facial features are rendered with remarkable realism, emphasizing individual characteristics while firmly anchoring them within the distinct cultural and historical context of the Tang period.