Chinese Temple Pillar - Crouching Man

A small figure crouches on top, hands on knees, holding up a disc as if it weighs nothing.

This temple pillar of a crouching man comes from Shanxi Province, China, and dates to the 17th century. It is stone. Carved stone posts topped with small figures were often set along balustrades and gateways in northern China, where crouching guardians and animals were favorite subjects. The squat figure has a round face, wide eyes and a grin. Above his head sits a flat round cap. The square shaft below has a recessed panel on one side and shallow incised roundels on another. It is 8 inches wide and 22 high.

He seems in good spirits for someone carrying the roof.