VCM

Silk Painting with a Man Riding a Dragon Design of Warring States Period
战国人物御龙帛画: hunan20

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Why this is a
Masterpiece

This is one of the earliest silk paintings discovered in China. It is categorized as one of the national treasures. The silk painting depicts a man wearing a top hat and a long and loose robe, armed with a long sword around his waist. The man is vividly portrayed, with delicate lines showing his eyebrow and moustache clearly and demonstrating the sense of ethereal beauty. It is acclaimed as a masterpiece that best represents the earliest Chinese portraits. Wearing a flowing robe, the figure in the silk painting rides a dragon. The whole design is simple but full of mystery. This silk painting is paired with the "Silk Painting with a Lady, Phoenix and Dragon Design" of the Warring States Period. Both are priceless gems of Pre-Qin Dynasty paintings.

History of the Object: Unearthed from No. 1 Tomb, Zidanku, Changsha City in 1973.

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Type: Painting
Materials: Silk
Measurements: Width 28 cm. Length 37.5 cm.
Creator name: Unknown
Creator date: Unknown
Where it was made: Hunan Province, China
Geography: China
Time period: BCE 5th century ~ BCE 3rd century
Creation date: BCE; 5th Century BCE - 3rd Century BCE; Warring States (475 B.C. – 221 B. C.)
Function: Used at funerals. During the funeral procession, the painting was held up in front of the coffin, which was said to bring comfort and calmness to the soul of the deceased. When it was unearthed, this silk painting was flatly laid upon the partition between the inner coffin and the outer coffin.
Acquisition: Unearthed from No. 1 Tomb, Zidanku, Changsha City in 1973 and later collected by the Hunan Provincial Museum.
Copyright: Hunan Provincial Museum Copyright
Acknowledgements
Owner: Hunan Provincial Museum
Museum: Hunan Provincial Museum
Credit line: http://www.hnmuseum.com/hnmuseum/eng