Nymph of the Luo River (Second Scroll) Full scroll on silk 699x28
This legendary handscroll brings to life a tragic romance from ancient China, based on Cao Zhi's poem about a prince who falls for the beautiful Goddess of the Luo River. Although the original by Gu Kaizhi is lost, this copy captures his famous 'continuous narrative' style, where the story unfolds scene by scene as you unroll the silk. You can see the same characters appearing multiple times—meeting, flirting, and finally separating in tears—making it feel like an ancient animated movie or comic strip. The ethereal figures float among mountains and rivers, blending human emotion with mythical landscape.
- Technique
- Ink and color on silk
- Material
- Silk