Here is another, but quite different, military general. The headdress includes what look like ears, horns and a top-knot above a small crown. The carving is especially artistic. Old, weathered and heavily used, this artifact is still in very good condition. Its last repaint was a long time ago, but the hair was last replaced more recently.

 The Maonans are farmers who grow millet and buckwheat and have a population of some 107,000, most of whom live in Guangxi Autonomous Region. In the 1964 census, there were 183 ethnic groups registered, among which only 54 are recognized. Assimilation into modern society is encouraged by the government. That, and a growing interest in Chinese folk art, is causing used masks like this to become harder and harder to find. More info.

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