英文摘要 |
Since the first publication about the “Avoiding Weapons” silk painting from Mawangdui, scholars have had different hypotheses as to the identity of the main deity in the centre of the painting. This study proposes an alternate configuration of the fragmented painting based on the traces of ink and revises the relative position of the upper figures. Accordingly, previously ignored handwriting above the main deity has been recognized and is argued to be a key to determining the identity of the main deity. The main deity in the central position is most likely Chiyou. In the painting, the Thunder God and the Rain Master in the upper section are used to highlight that Chiyou has the ability to summon wind and rain. The weapons held by the four figures in the middle section, as well as the furnace and mold in the lower section, together stand in praise of Chiyou’s ability to produce weapons. Through analyzing the visual language and the overall layout of the silk painting, the paper contributes to our understanding of the military culture of the Han dynasty. |