This group (BMA 1991.28-30) represents not only types of farm animals provided for the soul’s continued comfort, but also three of the Twelve Earthly Branches, the animals associated with China’s ancient 60-year calendrical system (rat, bull, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, pig). Could the set represent an extremely early appearance of the animals, which began to be depicted in painted decoration on walls or ceilings of 6th century tombs? Ceramic sets of the twelve, as animal-heads atop human figures or small animals carried in the arms of attendants, were featured among the spirit articles placed in tombs from the Tang dynasty (618–907) into the Ming (1368–1644).