The Painted Scene of Figures, Chariots, and Horses on a Journey

The Painted Scene of Figures, Chariots, and Horses on a Journey was unearthed in 1987 from the Baoshan Chu Tomb in Jingmen, Hubei Province. It is a lacquer painting that wraps around the exterior of a lacquer box, measuring 87.4 cm in length and 5.2 cm in width, depicting the scene of figures and chariots traveling during the Warring States period (475-221 BC). The painting uses colors such as earth yellow, tangerine, sea blue, and brown to outline a vibrant and lively scene with three-dimensional effect. Most notably, the artist ingeniously uses five willow trees swaying in the wind to divide the scene into five segments, enhancing the narrative. The first and second segments depict the traveling scene, while the third segment only shows a dog and a pig, whose lively leaps bring vitality to the entire painting. The fourth and fifth segments portray the scene of welcoming guests.

The figures in the painting have various postures, with pigs and dogs leaping, while chariots and horses move in order. The narrative flows coherently from beginning to end, with natural transitions, earning it the title of the earliest existing long scroll “comic strip” in China, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship of lacquerware from the Chu state.