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Secondary sourcePaintingWestern Han period, c. 2000 years old

Confucius and Laozi fresco, Dongping tomb

Anonymous Chinese painter of the Western Han period · Western Han period, c. 2000 years old

A Han dynasty tomb mural showing the legendary meeting of Confucius and Laozi, among the oldest surviving images of Laozi.

One of the oldest surviving images depicting Laozi, shown meeting Confucius.

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Faded fresco on a tan plastered wall showing several robed figures standing in a row, painted in green, grey and black tones, with a blue painted band at the top. Part of the fresco is worn and discolored.
Fresco depicting Confucius and Laozi, Western Han tomb, Dongping County, Shandong province.

About this source

What it is

This fresco was painted by an unknown artist on the wall of a Western Han tomb discovered in Dongping County, Shandong province, China, dating back about 2,000 years. It shows robed figures among other scenes of daily and legendary life painted in the tomb.

Why it matters

The fresco is one of the earliest surviving images connected to the story of Laozi, depicting his legendary meeting with Confucius. It shows how, within a few centuries of when he was said to have lived, Laozi was already remembered in art alongside Confucius as a figure of wisdom.

Look closer

  • What does it suggest that Laozi and Confucius are shown together, rather than alone?
  • Why might tomb owners have wanted this scene painted where they would be buried?
  • How much can we trust an image like this to show a real historical meeting?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Laozi on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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