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5th-century portrait brick depicts tortoise intertwined with snake
Updated: Feb 8, 2025
govt.chinadaily.com.cn
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A tortoise intertwined with a snake, known as the Black Tortoise (Xuanwu, Chinese: 玄武), is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations, representing the north and the winter season. This portrait brick from the Song Dynasty (420-479) of the Southern Dynasty era (420-589) depicts such an image with high-relief carving technique and vibrant colors.
Excavated in Dengzhou, Henan province, the brick is in the permanent collection of Henan Museum, preserving a legacy of ancient beliefs and craftsmanship.
