Jin-silk with Woven Characters En Ze

Han and Jin period, 1-6^th centuries

L10cm, W69.5 cm

Five main colors are applied for the warp thread, interlaced with a few brown threads to indicate raindrops. Continuous cloud pattern is used as the framework, decorated with rocks, birds, feathered figures and immortal animals like pixie, deer and tiger. Characters were woven onto the textile, with only two sections existent, namely “恩泽” (En Ze, means favor) and “下岁大孰宜子孙富贵寿” (Xia Sui Da Shu Yi Zi Sun Fu Gui Shou, means harvest next year for the wealth and longevity of the offspring), reflecting people’s longing for longevity and well-being of their descendants.