Rubbing

Mouse Eating Gourd from Shiziwan, Leshan. Depictions of mice and gourds are common in the Sichuan cliff tomb reliefs. Often, the mice are depicted eating the gourd as in this example. There may be a connection between such depictions and the idea of proliferation since mice are quick to reproducte and gourds carry large number of seeds. Similar gourds are occasionally found in the center of the ceiling within tombs and may be connected with protection from fire as a reference to the Shanhaijing. Black ink on rice paper. From Han tomb reliefs.