As Daoism spread across Ancient China and more and more people began subscribing to its beliefs, many offerings to graves and tombs began visually incorporating Daoist ideas in order to ensure a safe passage into the afterlife. 

This was especially prevalent for figures of great status such as that of Lady Dai. Hailing from what is now Changsha, she was a well-respected and high-ranking noblewoman who died somewhere during the 2nd century BCE. Owing to her high status, her body was well preserved, remaining the world's oldest non-mummified preserved body and her tomb was also decadently decorated and endowed. Containing clothing, paintings, food and her own quadruple nested coffin. The silk banner to the left was found on the top of the innermost nested coffin. 

Here, the symmetrical composition of the animals reflects the ideas of balance central to Daoist belief. The upper register features the sun bird and moon toad sitting in opposing corners of the piece, contrasting one another. The lowest register features other animals like fish, snakes and goats as well as some sort of monster or deity. 

The division of the registers also indicates the elemental balances central to Daoism. While the upper register or the heaven of the piece represents air, the lower register or the realm below the ground could represent fire or water and the middle representing the mortal realm, earth. 

 From the collection of: The Hunan Museum.