T-Shaped Silk Funeral Banner of Lady Dai
A 2,200-year-old painted silk banner from the tomb of Lady Dai (Xin Zhui) at Mawangdui — the finest surviving example of Han Dynasty painting and a cosmological map of heaven, earth, and the underworld.
The Story
Draped over the innermost coffin of Lady Dai, this T-shaped silk banner (feiyi 非衣) is a visual guide for the soul's journey after death. Reading from top to bottom, it depicts three realms: the heavenly world (sun, moon, dragons, celestial gates), the earthly realm (Lady Dai herself, attended by servants, receiving ritual offerings), and the underworld (a giant figure standing on intertwined fish, supporting the earth above). The painting is executed with extraordinary finesse — flowing brushwork, vibrant mineral pigments (cinnabar red, azurite blue, malachite green), and a compositional sophistication that rivals anything in Western art for another thousand years. Discovered in 1972 when the Mawangdui tombs were excavated during a Cold War bomb-shelter construction project, the banner's near-perfect preservation shocked archaeologists.
Why It Matters
The most important surviving painting from pre-imperial and early imperial China — a cosmological masterpiece that redefined understanding of Han Dynasty art, religion, and afterlife beliefs.
Fun Facts
Discovered during a Cold War bomb-shelter excavation in 1972
Lady Dai's body was so well preserved that her skin was still elastic and blood type could be determined
The banner's three-realm cosmology matches descriptions in the Chu Ci (Songs of the South)
Over 1,400 objects were found in Lady Dai's tomb including silk manuscripts, lacquerware, and food
Where to See It
Public collections holding this artifact or closely related pieces.
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Sources & References
- ·Wikipedia — Mawangdui(CC-BY-SA 3.0)
- ·Smarthistory — Tomb of Lady Dai
Content informed by the sources above. Where Wikipedia text is used, it is licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.