What is the origin of folk brick carving?

Brick carving is a widely used form in folk architecture, and its history can be traced back to the portrait brick of Han Dynasty.

During the Qin and Han dynasties, it was generally believed that the soul could not die after death, and the wind of reburial prevailed. The collective martyrdom of Qin Shihuang's mausoleum and Huo Qubing's tomb is a typical example of this trend. Stone reliefs and brick reliefs used for the repair and decoration of tombs made great artistic achievements in this period. The themes of Han Dynasty portrait bricks made by turning over the blanks with molds are extensive: from life scenes, historical stories, myths and legends to various decorative patterns, which widely reflect the social life at that time. Although the theme of Han Dynasty portrait brick comes from life, its style is not bound by details. Although its form is realistic, both composition and modeling are subject to the artist's unique subjective feelings, and the realistic tradition established in the Yin and Shang Dynasties has been fully reflected in the portrait bricks.