In 1949 a painting on white silk was unearthed in a tomb of the Chu Kingdom near Changsha in Hunan Province . This Human, Dragon and Phoenix Painting is the earliest traditional Chinese painting found so far.

Dragon and Phoenix Painting 　　

The painting was executed about 2,300 years ago on a piece of white silk used as a banner in traditional Chinese funerals. Although it is blotched and indistinct now, the outlines are still eligible. It is the profile of a woman dressed in a garment with full sleeves and a long skirt. She has her palms together, as if praying. On top of her head is a flying phoenix with its tail curving upward. On her right side is a twisting dragon rising to the sky. One foot of the dragon has been stripped off. Some people have suggested the woman in the picture was a portrayal of the one buried in the tomb, and the phoenix and dragon are leading her up to heaven. Others say that the woman is a witch praying for the dead in the tomb, with the phoenix and dragon as her guides. Some experts consider the fighting between the phoenix and dragon a struggle between good and evil, and the woman is praying for good to conquer evil. Clearly, the real meaning of the painting has not yet been deciphered.

The painting is done with smooth and strong strokes. Some parts are filled with ink washes, some painted with colors. The forms of the woman, phoenix and the dragon are all of decorative beauty. Although there is no background in the picture, its rich and moving content makes it a complete painting.

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