SUI/EARLY TANG DYNASTY, 6TH-7TH CENTURY

Compare the small gilt-bronze figure of a guardian, standing in a similar position on the shoulders of a crouching demon, which is dated to the Tang dynasty, and wears more ornate armor, illustrated by S. Matsubara in Chuugoku Bukkyo Chokokushi Ron, vol. 3, Tang, Five Dynasties, Song and Daoism Sculpture, Tokyo, 1995, pl. 669(a). See, also, the related figure, dated to the Tang dynasty, illustrated in Fojiao Diaosu Mingpin Tulu, Beijing, 1997, p. 552, no. 529.