Painting on Silk

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. 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.
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.