The Touching Female Servant Sculptures in the Jin Temple
Other figures in the temple include four eunuchs and a
few female servants in men's clothes. The rest are all women servants wearing
clothes of the late Tang
Dynasty and the following Five
Dynasties
; some are in long robes, some in short
shirts and long skirts. Their hair is combed into coils of different shapes and
colorful scarves cover their heads. Each of them holds tools or writing
materials, and they are either dressing for their masters, serving their
dinners, singing and dancing to amuse them or preparing their beds. Their
expressions and gestures are natural and, peaceful.

The female servant sculptures in the Jin Temple represent women of different
temperament and personality. Some are smiling and greeting each other, some are
whispering with each other; all, however, have fine features and calm
expressions. These sculptures were carved so vividly that one can almost feel
their breath and their pulse and hear their whispered words. They reflect
women's lives and feelings in the Song Dynasty. From them we see that Song
Dynasty sculptors paid great attention to revealing the inner world of their
figures.
The Superb skills of Song Dynasty sculptors can also be
seen in the sculptures' drapery The Goddess' robe appears to have a soft and
delicatequality and it falls in harmony with her body structure. The designs on
the servants' skirts are beautifully patterned; and jade
pendants attached to some of the
scarves and belts symbolize the wearers' different status and to make the
figures appear more diversified. The colored sculpture group in the Jin Temple
reveals a harmonious relationship between masters and servants. The Goddess must
be a very kind and lovely lady and all her clever and virtuous servants were
loyal to her; together they present a very touching scene.
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