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December greetings from a Han Dynasty stone creature
Updated: Dec 1, 2025
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December is here and someone ancient is saying hello! Meet this adorable bear-like mythical creature, carved from limestone nearly 2,000 years ago. It is squatting sideways, one paw on its chest, and the other raised in a friendly wave. Wide eyes, a playful grin — the sculptor truly brought it to life.
As a stone inlay ornament unearthed in the western burial chamber of the tomb of Liu He (92-59 BC), the Marquis of Haihun, it showcases the remarkable stone carving skills of the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). Now, it is housed in the Nanchang Museum for Haihun Fief of Han Dynasty.
