The selection and rejection of animal face pattern tiles: The Bohai State examined from a greater East Asian perspective

Abstract

Archaeological findings show that eaves tile components were already in use in the Fufeng and Qishan areas of Shaanxi Province during the Western Zhou Dynasty. As decorative elements, the composition idea and patterns of eaves tiles reflect aesthetic tastes and distinct features of regional cultures. Archaeological research at sites of the Bohai Sate, a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty, have uncovered numerous eaves tiles with all kinds of patterns, except for the animal face pattern. In contrast to Bohai State sites, however, animal face pattern eaves tiles are recovered from contemporaneous sites of the Tang Dynasty, Unified Silla, and in Japan. This paper interprets this phenomenon through consideration of the influence of Tang Dyansty culture, regional cultural inheritance from the Koguryo state, as well as the prevalence of Buddhist culture. It suggests that the absence of the animal face pattern eaves tiles resulted from subjective cultural choices. While the animal face pattern was not used for on eaves tiles, it is found to be applied in the decoration of other architectural elements associated with the Bohai Culture, indicating that people have not totally rejected its use.