The cultural logic of dance and music: Tang dynasty female music-and-dance figurines from Henan

Under the impetus of the ritualmusic system and prevailing social customs, dance and music in the Tang dynasty flourished to an unprecedented degree. Against this background, female music-and-dance figurines unearthed in the Henan region emerged as important carriers that combined ritualcustomary functions with artistic significance. These figurines not only recreate the dynamic scenes of dance and musical performance but also embody, through their figurative design, the cultural construction of female identity and temperament. Taking the question of why dance and music as its central concern, this paper examines the types, forms, and design language of music-and-dance figurines from Henan, exploring how dynamic aesthetic qualities of dance and music are expressed through posture, costume, and accompanying instruments, as well as how the spirit of music and dance is conveyed through facial expression and narrative composition. In doing so, the study reveals a form of female consciousness shaped by the coexistence of ritual discipline and individual expression. These figurines thus serve as a vital medium for understanding the aesthetic sensibilities, institutional logic, and cultural spirit of Tang dynasty society.