This ancient painting over 2300 years ago is a banner used at the funeral. Although mottled and blurred, we can still see the scene depicted in the painting: a woman in a long skirt with wide sleeves, her hands folded as if praying. A phoenix is flying in the air above the woman's head, its tail feathers are rolled up, and a distorted dragon on the left is rising upward. Because one foot has peeled off, it looks like only one foot, so it was once mistaken for (legend has it that there is only one foot). Researchers have many speculations about the content of this painting. Some people think that this woman is a portrait of the tomb owner, and the dragon and phoenix in front lead her to heaven. Some people think that this painting depicts a witch praying for the dead in the tomb and leading her to heaven with dragons and phoenixes. Some experts believe that the dispute between phoenix and dragon represents the struggle between good and evil, and women are praying for good to overcome evil. What is true remains to be further explored.
The picture is outlined with smooth and powerful lines. Some parts are filled with ink, and some parts are dirty. People, dragons and phoenixes have certain decorative shapes. There is no background in the painting, but the full and dynamic composition still makes the picture look complete and substantial.
Silk painting is rectangular and dark brown plain silk, depicting figures, dragons and phoenixes with freehand brushwork. In the picture, an aristocratic woman stands upright and prays with her hands folded. She is wearing a robe with wide sleeves and a thin waist. Her dress was decorated with clouds. A woman's feet are like a dragon boat, which can also be interpreted as a crescent moon. At the front end of the woman, there is a phoenix with a high neck and a cocky tail, which jumps up lightly and elegantly. Corresponding to the phoenix, it is a yellow dragon with its foot stretched out and its tail turned up, and its body bends and rises.
Unearthed place: Chu Tomb in Changsha, Hunan Province
Overall dimensions: length 3 1cm, width 22.5cm
Year of production: middle and late Warring States Period