Dragon and Tiger Portraits In Clay

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The clay representations of a dragon and tiger in the main hall are regarded widely as national treasures. They are made of jiao zhi clay. Although jiao zhi clay objects are usually fired at high temperature, the items here have been fired in separate pieces at low temperature and joined together afterwards, one piece at a time in a very time-consuming process. These two portraits have been made with great detail and precision, and the extraordinary beauty delivers the sort of message that only art can communicate….