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10th-century wooden sculpture depicts two heads sharing a snake body
Updated: Feb 12, 2025
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This wooden sculpture depicts two human heads wearing cowls, eyes closed in peace, yet sharing a single snake body. The two heads face opposite directions, with necks intertwined.
Unearthed from a royal tomb of the Yang Wu Kingdom (907-937) in present-day Yangzhou, the sculpture is believed to represent a figure from the Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shanhai Jing), symbolizing the ruler's lingering wish for power and prosperity in the afterlife. Collection: Yangzhou Museum.
