Winged Dragon, China, Western Han Dynasty, 2nd century BC. Height: 7.0 cm Width: 7.2 cm. © Miho Museum

Winged dragons found on pottery models excavated in Shanxi Province and carved on bronze vessels excavated from the same period in Henan Province are four-legged beasts with undulating, S-shaped horns. This was a previously unseen depiction of the dragon, and this design is thought to be connected to the so-called "Peshi-evil and Tianlu" figures that appeared during the Han dynasty.

The Peshi-evil and Tianlu were stone carvings of a pair of sacred beasts placed in front of tombs of the Later Han dynasty. This design had already appeared among jade and bronze grave goods of the Western Han dynasty. Since the reign of Emperor Wu, the Han dynasty had direct ties with Central Asia and the influence of its expansion into the Western Regions can be seen.

The small lion-shaped bronze figurine, inlaid with gold and silver, appears to be roaring with its legs planted firmly and its head slightly raised. The head is crowned with golden, horizontally S-shaped horns, and golden clouds of light begin at the chest and curl backward at the buttocks, like a kirin's tail. At the base of the front legs are large, arching golden clouds reminiscent of wings, with small wing-like protrusions at the elbows. The tail is flat and wide, like a deer's. The filigree pattern on the ear tips and the band-like protrusions of the gills are reminiscent of West Asian lions, but the unique shape of the horns also suggests a distant ancestor in the Persian griffin. The posture and silver inlay on the front, sides, and hind legs imbue the powerful energy of an auspicious beast, evoking a sense of aggression, ready to pounce with its sharp claws and fangs at any evil spirit. This auspicious beast, small but meticulously crafted as a burial accessory, must have possessed sufficient power to guard the burial chamber.