Turtle-shaped container, China, by 874, partly gilded silver, 13 x 15 x 28.3 cm, probably used to store tea powder. From the rear chamber of the Famen Temple crypt. Famen Temple Museum. Image courtesy of Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion

Basket decorated with flying geese (longzi), China, by 874, gilded silver, 17.8 x 16.1 x 16.1 cm. From the rear chamber of the Famen Temple crypt. Famen Temple Museum. Image courtesy of Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion

Basin engraved with mandarin ducks and flowers, China, by 874, partly gilded silver, 14.5 x 46 x 46 cm. From the rear chamber of the Famen Temple crypt. Famen Temple Museum. Image courtesy of Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion

Box decorated with lions, Southern China, 860-73, gilded silver, 11.2 x 17.3 x 16.8 cm. Possibly a tribute item from Southern China. From the rear chamber of the Famen Temple crypt. Famen Temple Museum. Image courtesy of Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion

Incense burner with stand, China, dated 869, partly gilded silver, overall height 50.5 cm; censer: height 29.5 cm, diameter 25.9 cm; stand: height 21 cm, diameter 43.5 cm. From the rear chamber of the Famen Temple crypt. Famen Temple Museum. Image courtesy of Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion

Jug with faces, China, perhaps kingdom of Khotan, possibly early 8th century (by 741), bronze, height 29.5 cm, Lintong Museum. This cast bronze jug is ont of the most enigmatic objects excavated in China in recent years. Image courtesy Asian Civilisations Museum

Sculpture of Hayagriva, the Horse-Headed King of Brightness, one of the rarefied and sometimes complex deities associated with Esoteric Buddhism - a wrathful manifestation of Avalokiteshvara. China, aroubd 800, marble, 88 x 55 cm, Xi'an Beilin Museum. Image courtesy Asian Civilisations Museum

Tomb guardian (zhenmushou), China, around 666, painted earthenware, 59 x 32 x 30 cm, Zhaoling Museum. Image courtesy Asian Civilisations Museum

Coffin-shaped reliquary, around 871, jade, 5 x 6,8 x 3,5 cm. Famen Temple Museum. Image courtesy of Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion

Reliquary with forty-five Buddhist figures, dated 871, gilded silver, 17 x 17 x 17 cm. Famen Temple Museum. Image courtesy of Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion

Bodhi tree ornament. China, 8th century. Gold. Tang dynasty. Image courtesy Asian Civilisations Museum