Dressed for immortality: an inscribed silk for the Han nobility

Abstract

During the Han dynasty, the earliest era of the Chinese empire, which was characterised by great prosperity, silk weaving achieved a high standard. Colourful patterns with meandering clouds and auspicious animals were in great demand among the nobility. These motifs represent a heavenly realm of immortality that the Han people hoped to reach, while embedded inscriptions literally give voice to a request for eternal bliss. It is rare to find such a silk made into a garment. Yet, the Abegg-Stiftung holds an object that was once the upper part of a dress. Tailored from blue inscription silk, it bears a unique prayer. Here, for the first time, the text of the prayer is presented to the public and interpreted in detail.