My first thought when I saw this photograph was of the flying monkey people from "The Wizard of Oz" movie! Then I thought about Haunamann.
Research sheds light on bronze statue in Hubei
2010-01-27 08:49 BJT
Archaeologists have shed more light on the discovery of a one-thousand-year-old statue. It was found in Central China's Hubei province. Now let's learn more.
The artifact is a 3-centimeter-high bronze statue, believed to be the smallest winged figurine created in China. It's no bigger than a human thumb.
The statue is of a slightly crouching man with disproportionately large wings on his back, as though he's ready to soar into the sky.
According to the Xianfan City Archeology Institute, the figurine dates back to the Three Kingdoms Period in the 3rd century AD. It was unearthed beside an ancient tomb, and is believed to be an ornament for the tomb's occupant.
Historical records show that the region of central China, formerly known as the Land of Chu, used to be home to flourishing magical arts until the late Jin Dynasty in the 5th century. The figurine has wings made of feathers and plumes, both of which were sacred objects in magical rituals in the Land of Chu.
The tiny statue is distinguished by a string of Buddhist prayer beads on its neck, a testament to the earliest influence of India's Buddhism in central China.
