@PugJesus I like the badger-looking one.
I mean, back then, these must’ve been precious figures to display in your home. Idk if they had shelves for figures like we do now, but displaying them somewhere would be like having ancient relics on your shelf.
My knowledge of medieval Korea is VERY spotty, but funny enough, I’m reading a book on Ancient Roman souvenirs right now, and there’s speculation that often, the usage of small figurines like these is very similar to the modern day - cute little tchotchkes to show to visitors and enjoy in your quiet moments.
On the other hand, such figurines were also used as grave goods or spiritual offerings to the local gods. Especially given the mythology of the Sinosphere, like the Chinese zodiac, these may have additional meanings.
They’re absolutely adorable, whatever their usage or meaning. I love them.
Is that a badger, or is that a rat? I could see either, but rat would make sense if it’s a Zodiac connection. Rat, Rooster, and Pig are three of the twelve.
*9th century CE. Korean Jesus wasn’t a thing back then.
In Anno Domini is so much cooler than “Common Era”, though.
That being said, I know the Nestorian Church was active in China and Mongolia in this period.
