Riding on the Cat in Spring
Today We, Zarathustra the Cat, reveal to the world the true version of the iconic Chinese scroll by renowned court painter in the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) Zhang Xuan, “Lady Guoguo’s Spring Outing.” It appeared that this famous beauty rode her cat!
Zhang Xuan, “Lady Guoguo’s Spring Ride on Her Cat”, 907 AD
The scroll depicts a spring outing of the Tang aristocracy. Although the original painting disappeared, a copy from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) is now a national treasure in China.
Zhang Xuan, “Lady Guoguo’s Spring Ride on Her Cat”, detail
Lady Guoguo was the elder sister of Yang Yuhuan (AD 719-56), known as Yang Guifei or Imperial Consort Yang, one of the Four Beauties of ancient China
Zhang Xuan, “Lady Guoguo’s Spring Ride on Her Cat”, Lady Guoguo
The beautiful Lady of Guoguo was so lofty that she only needed light makeup before entering the palace, while the other women tried every means possible to dress up and look beautiful.
Zhang Xuan, “Lady Guoguo’s Spring Ride on Her Cat”, close-up
Her person always attracted attention during her outings, and now we see why: she rode on her large ginger cat instead of a horse!
Everybody in the painting looks at her, and the horses are jealously tracing the noble run of the royal ginger.
Now you know the ancient Chinese secret of going out without make-up: just ride on your cat, and the crowd will look at you in awe!
Just compare the commonly known version of the painting in the Liaoning Provincial Museum:
Zhang Xuan, “Lady Guoguo’s Spring Outing”, the copy is now on display at Liaoning Provincial Museum
No mystery is revealed here! You know which version is true.
Now you know what to do when you forget your mascara and powder: just ride on your cat instead of a horse!
Happy Chinese New Year of the Horse!
Thus speaks Zarathustra the Cat
P.S. Not to miss an important date, don’t forget to buy the 2026 FAT CAT ART CALENDAR
or BUY THIS ARTWORK as a CANVAS PRINT or as a POSTER
