Meet the sacred owl of the warrior queen

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Meet the sacred owl of the warrior queen

The owl, known in ancient China as xiao (鸮), was regarded by the people of Shang Dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE) as a sacred bird embodying wisdom and courage, its image often cast onto ritual vessels. A pair of owl-shaped zun vessels unearthed from the tomb of Fu Hao are adorned with eight distinct decorative motifs and inscribed with the characters "Fu Hao." These works not only attest to the illustrious military achievements of this female general but also reflect the aesthetic ideals and religious beliefs of the Shang Dynasty.

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