Eunuch Attendant Of The Holy Mother

Song Dynasty
Holy Mother Hall, Jin Shrine, Shanxi

A court eunuch stands before the throne, awaiting orders. His function is to dispatch messages and orders from the Holy Mother to others who will then carry them out. Upon closer examination (not really visible here), the figure can be seen to lean towards the Holy Mother in attentive posture; to squint out of one eye so as not to look at her directly; and to have one ear enlarged to better hear her commands.