sigmund freud's collection an archaeology of the mind

Head of a Guardian Figure
Chinese, Ming Dynasty, 15th–17th century AD
bronze, 17.0 x 15.0 x 15.5 cm
LDFRD 3444
Collection Freud Museum London
Freud also collected a small range of South-East Asian art. He did not
visit the region and referred only in passing to eastern civilisations in
his writings.
Head of a Guardian Figure is a protector of a Buddhist temple and
is known as a dvarapala. Typically, a pair of guardians in warrior dress
holding weapons would fl ank the entrance to a temple or shrine.
Buddhism had become popular in China during the Han dynasty
(206 BC–220 AD). Though Chinese art tends to favour serenity and
contemplation, and Buddhism is a non-violent religion, Guardian
Figure has a fi erce expression. The duty of such fi gures was to actively
protect the temple and its worshippers, and challenge those who
would contradict the Buddha’s teachings. The mouth of Guardian
Figure is open as if uttering the mantra ‘ah’. His companion fi gure
would have had his mouth closed for ‘um.’ These two letters are
the beginning and end of the Sanskrit alphabet, and symbolise the
beginning and end of time. This Guardian Figure would probably have
stood on the left of the entrance and his companion fi gure on the right.
The Ming dynasty (1368-1644 AD) was a period of cultural
restoration and expansion. After overthrowing the Mongols, the
indigenous Chinese rulers engaged in major projects that included the
construction of the Forbidden City in Beijing and further fortifi cations of
the Great Wall.
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