The Seventh Sister Image 1

This painting is an illustration for a Chinese Legend titled "The Seventh Sister"; rather this is one of many titles for the many versions of this tale. The story tells of a group of heavenly maidens, 7 sisters who were responsible for weaving the "tapestry" that created the night sky. Occassionly, however, the women would travel down to earth to gather water to aid them in their work.

One day a young man discovered the maidens, and one in particular captured his heart. Realizing their identities, he then noticed the sisters heavenly robes, ones which gave them the power to travel to the heavens, hanging neatly upon the tree branches. Finding the one which belonged to his love, the man hid it away and he watched as each maiden but one flew into the sky.

The image that I have painted here is the moment after that point of the story. The final heavenly maiden is at a loss being stranded on earth, crying for her lost robe and her sisters high above. The man felt so anguished seeing her in this manner that he decided to approach her by playing his flute, praying that its sweet melody would ease her suffering. Upon hearing and seeing the man, the maiden too fell in love with him and in time the two were married.

And yet, the story's ending was bitter sweet. Though the man and the maiden were happy and in love, because the 6 other sisters were unable to bring forth the night due to her absense in its creation, the man was then forced to surrender the robe that he had hidden away, allowing his love to return to the heavens.

However the two star crossed lovers are able to meet one another on a special night; once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month..... This day is still celebrated in China as the "Festival of the Milky Way."

The illustration above was drawn in pencil on cold press water color paper, and then painted using opaque water color paints.