Rubbing of ancient roof tiles
A famous tourist handicraft from Xi'an. The Qin and Han dynasties were the golden age of tile-end art. Apart from being made of hard and dense gray clay, Qin and Han tile-ends feature extremely delicate patterns—geometric designs, cloud motifs, animal figures, and inscriptions—displaying simple yet elegant patterns and vivid imagery. A Qin dynasty giant kui-dragon patterned tile-end with a diameter of 6.15 cm, discovered near the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor in Lintong, boasts an ancient design and vigorous patterns, making it the largest tile-end currently in existence. With support from cultural heritage authorities, artisans in Xi'an's arts and crafts industry utilize the region’s rich collection of ancient tile-ends to produce faithful reproductions, create rubbings, and mount them. These are then compiled into collections categorized by excavation site or pattern content. Additionally, there are relief-patterned tile-end ornaments, embroidered tile-end crafts, and replicas available for tourists and antique enthusiasts to appreciate and purchase.
Source: Xi'an Municipal Chronicles Office
This article is published by HowToTrip. Sharing and reposting are welcome — please credit the source.
Article URL: https://www.howtotrip.net/techan38898