Images

712-779 CE. (Head is a reconstruction). Earthenware with pigments. Excavated from Hansenzhai, (eastern suburb of Xi'an), 1988. From the Xi'an Museum. (Photo taken at the Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney Australia)

742 CE. Earthenware with pigment. Excavated from Crown Prince Li Xian's tomb at Pucheng County, 2000. Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology. (Photo taken at the Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney Australia)

C. 600-634 CE. Porcelain. 25 cm (height). Excavated from the tomb of Princess Fengning (583-610 CE) and her husband Wei Yuanzhao (572-623 CE), Shaolingyuan, Chang'an District, Xi'an, 1990. From the Shaanxi Provincial Institute...

Fragment of the book of Exodus, Text page, Walters Manuscript W.739, fol. 1r This fragment from the Book of Exodus is a bifolium presenting the text of Exodus 21:16-35a on fol. 1 and 23:5b-21a on fol. 2. The missing text in between...

The mound tombs of Gyeongju (Geumseong), capital of the Silla kingdom which ruled in Korea from the 1st century BCE to 10th century CE.

A limestone relief slab depicting Seshat, the Egyptian goddess of writing. ca. 1919-1875 BCE. (Brooklyn Museum, USA).

A relief from the back of the throne of a seated statue of Ramesses II depicting the Egyptian goddess of writing Seshat. 13th century BCE, Luxor Temple, Egypt.

A modern-day re-enactor of a member of ancient Korea's elite youth class, the hwarang.

The frontispiece in gold and silver of the Avatamsaka sutra showing a scene in paradise. Goryeo Dynasty, Korea, mid-14th century CE. (Ho-Am Art Museum)

The frontispiece in gold and silver of the Amitabha sutra showing a scene in paradise. Goryeo Dynasty, Korea, 1341 CE. (The British Museum, London)