Ancient Chinese Art
Money Tree, Bronze with yellow-glazed pottery base, Eastern Han dynasty, 2nd-3rd century CE. Gift of Connoisseurs Council. Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
This �money tree� was placed in tombs and consisted of a ceramic base topped with 20 branches made of bronze. On the branches can be seen images of Han dynasty coins and a host of mythological figures symbolizing wealth and immortality. During this time, there was a great interest in furnishing tombs in ways that would support different beliefs in the afterlife. This tree combines the desire for eternal wealth and the promise of immortal life in a heavenly realm. The base is shaped like a three-level mountain, with hunting scenes, deer, a phoenix bird, and a ewe suckling on a winged animal. At the top of the base, a rider appears to be holding the shaft of the tree. The base represents the earth (life and fertility). The branches face out in the four cardinal directions, and contain coins that
