The Maidservants

Ever wondered what a Tang Dynasty tomb reveals about its era’s elite?

During this vibrant period, tomb murals shifted focus to noblewomen, offering a glimpse into their lives. These stunning artworks show not just grand processions but intimate scenes of noblewomen and their maidservants, captured both in burial chambers and passageways. This shift reflects the period’s growing appreciation for daily life and family. Dive into the Tang Dynasty’s rich visual culture and see how these artworks celebrate the roles of women in both life and the afterlife.

Tang Dynasty (618-907) 177cm*198cm Mural painting in tomb of  Princess Yongtai, Qianxian county, Shanxi Province.

This piece is compiled from the Chinese edition of Three Thousand Years of Chinese Painting by Foreign Languages Press and Yale University Press, translated by Chen Ying.