Author: Shuyuan, Jin

Annotation: Coffin-covering silk paintings are a unique component of Chinese tomb art. Previous studies on them have often focused on the content of the paintings and the interpretation of their symbolic symbols. I attempts to start from the form of coffin-covering silk paintings, explore the spiritual metaphors derived from the form, and further gain insight into the views on life and death as well as the cosmology in early Chinese funeral culture. Starting from lines to composition, the study first focuses on exploring the vitality brought by "curves" and the ability of "curves" to intertwine and weave through the painting; further, it investigates the formation of the three-layer composition of coffin-covering silk paintings and the significance embodied in it. Starting from the form and moving from the specific to the general, this paper explores the spiritual core of funeral culture.

Keywords: coffin-covering silk painting; Mawangdui T-shaped silk painting; Figure Controlling a Dragon; curve; three-layer composition

Pages in journal: 960 - 967