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Han Dynasty jade door knocker combines mythical guardians, masterful carving
Updated: Sep 21, 2026
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Carved from a single block of jade, this massive guardian was made to protect an emperor in the afterlife.
This jade door knocker with four divine beasts — azure dragon, white tiger, vermilion bird, black tortoise — unearthed from Emperor Wu of Han’s Maoling Mausoleum and now housed at the Maoling Museum in Xianyang, Shaanxi province — is the largest and heaviest Han Dynasty (206 BC–AD 220) jade artifact discovered in China to date.
Combining a fierce beast face with the four symbols, it reflects Han beliefs about the cosmos and nature, as well as the era’s exceptional jade-carving craftsmanship.
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