The tomb of Mawangdui yielded five wooden figurines of musicians in an ensemble made up of two "yu" pipers and three "se" zither players. This set of figurines offers a microcosmic representation of a performance that would typically have entertained the tomb occupant while she was alive. These figurines not only exemplify the highly advanced carving techniques prevalent in the Han dynasty, but also bear testimony to the lifestyle, costumes and burial customs of that era.   Close