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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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File:Mawangdui Silk Banner From Tomb No1.jpg

The painting on silk depicts the heaven (upper part), the human realm (middle part), and the netherworld (bottom part).

Heaven:

  • Nüwa, depicted as a human with a serpent's body
  • Sun with its golden crow
  • Another eight suns in the Fusang tree
  • Toad on the moon
  • Chang'e flying to the moon
  • Heavenly gate separating heaven and earth as well as its gatekeepers

Human realm:

  • Xin Zhui (the deceased occupant of the tomb), accompanied by three maids of honor and welcomed by two minor officials, traveling over the road to heaven
  • People who are offering sacrifices and prayers in a memorial service

Netherworld:

  • Giant that stands on the back of whales while holding up earth
Depicted people Xin Zhui Edit this at Wikidata Date circa 168 BC
date QS:P,-0168-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902
 Edit this at Wikidata Medium Three layers of silk
One piece of silk sewn over the whole width of the center part
A piece of silk sewn on each side of the upper part
A bamboo stick at top, wrapped by the silk
Four tassels made from indigo flax thread Dimensions 205 cm long
92 cm wide at the top
47.7 cm wide at the bottom Collection
Place of creation China during the Han dynasty Place of discovery Mawangdui Edit this at Wikidata Object history At the Mawangdui Han Tomb No.1 (belonging to Xin Zhui), during the evening of 25 April 1972, this T-shaped painting on silk was discovered on the coffin of the fourth layer. Over the course of the following days, it was carefully removed and secured for transport to the museum. Exhibition history A reproduction of this banner can be publicly viewed. Notes This is a funeral procession banner. During the Han dynasty, people believed that the spirit would leave the body upon death, becoming a wandering spirit. The spirit was called back to the body before burial by a banner, while the soul was restored by leaving the body in the coffin at home for a few days before burial to allow its return to the body. The banner was placed in front the coffin and would be held up while the coffin was being carried, guiding the spirit to the burial ground. After the memorial ceremony, the banner would be placed on top of the innermost coffin to be buried. This way, the spirit ascends heaven and the soul goes underground. This traditional practice is still extant in some form today. References Source/Photographer Screenshot stitched from the Flash website:
马王堆汉墓陈列全景数字展厅. Changsha: Hunan Provincial Museum. Other versions See also
InfoField
Object location28° 12′ 42.3″ N, 112° 59′ 31.44″ E Kartographer map based on OpenStreetMap.View this and other nearby images on: OpenStreetMapinfo

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28°12'42.296"N, 112°59'31.441"E

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Date/TimeThumbnailDimensionsUserComment
current18:25, 13 April 2023Thumbnail for version as of 18:25, 13 April 2023903 × 2,250 (1.51 MB)Cold SeasonReverted to version as of 02:26, 7 September 2014 (UTC); looks washed out
06:19, 7 July 2020Thumbnail for version as of 06:19, 7 July 2020903 × 2,250 (852 KB)Bogomolov.PLbetter contrast
02:26, 7 September 2014Thumbnail for version as of 02:26, 7 September 2014903 × 2,250 (1.51 MB)Cold Season== {{int:filedesc}} == {{Artwork |artist = |author = |title = |description = The painting on silk depicts the heaven (upper part), the human realm (middle part), and the netherworld (bottom part). '''Hea...

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