From Feathered Humans to Feitian (Flying Deities): A Brief Analysis of the Expressive Path of the Motive of “Flight” under the Transformation of Mythical Art
Abstract
In traditional mythological art, the imagery of “flight” embodies ancient humans’ romantic imagination and idealized vision of transcending the mundane world and soaring freely. Its expression of dynamic momentum carries unique aesthetic value and cultural connotation. However, existing studies have primarily focused on the symbolic meaning of “flight” or on comparative analyses of immortal figures in Chinese and Western traditions, while systematic and in-depth studies on the dynamic aesthetics of “flight” in mythological art remain insufficient. By tracing the evolution of imagery from feathered humans to Feitian (flying deities), and examining three distinctive dimensions—“controlling motion through line,” “creating momentum through color,” and “evoking rhythm through space”—this study reveals the unique artistic techniques and striking dynamic aesthetic features manifested in Chinese art’s representation of the momentum of “flight.”
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