Wooden Tailsman

Accession No. H00055 (377.3)
Period Han Dynasty
Material Wood
Findspot Boro Tsonji Site
Dimension L. 26.7cm; W. 2.6cm; T. 1.26cm

Description

Taogeng is a human-figure talisman made of peach branches that was employed by the Han people to ward off devils and evil spirits. The bottom is sharpened to be inserted in the ground in front of a household. As per the custom of different regions, Taogengs unearthed in the Northwestern China were not made of peach branches but endemic tree species.