Symbolic Image Of 'Tai Yi' In Wall Paintings Of Han Tombs

TAI YI , also known as the ONE, is the original power of the universe. To a certain extent, TAI YI is similar to the concept of TAO in Lao Zi's philosophy. Since our topic is the symbolic image of TAI YI god, in Chapter One we first discussed a silk drawing excavated from NO.3 Han Tomb of Ma Wangdui, on which the figure of TAI YI god is depicted as kind of combination of a human figure and a dragon. Some researchers take the figure as the symbolic image of TAI YI god, and explain the whole picture from this point of view. But in fact, many of gods and devils or even man with supernatural power in Chinese culture may have the same kind of figure to show their differences from human beings. So that half-human half-animal figure is hardly able to be regarded as the symbolic image of TAI YI god. In Chapter Two, we analyzed the theoretical background of TAI YI in Chapter One, and found that in the Han Dynasty TAI YI has become the symbol of the UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLE, as well as the highest God in belief. In Chapter Three, we begins our search of the real symbolic image of TAI YI god from earlier tombs with wall painting in Western Han. The purpose of course is to gather more concrete proofs to support our argument. We did find out that the symbolic image of TAI YI god is mainly represented by certain basic symbols of YIN and YANG, such as moon and sun, female and male. Its meaning echoes to the descriptions given by ancient philosophical works, for example, the bamboo manuscripts named'TAI YI SHENG SHUI'of Chu State in the Warring States Period, according to which TAI YI creates the world by generating two interacting basic drives, namely HEAVEN and EARTH, COLD and WARMTH, or YIN and YANG.