The Illustrations of Emperors throughout the Ages

The imperial figures in The Illustrations of Emperors throughout the Ages also appear in the wall paintings of Dunhuang's Cave 220, specifically in the Vimalakirti Sutra. These paintings depict the emperors facing foreign monarchs, reflecting the political context of the early Tang Dynasty. Additionally, the mural Amitayurdhyana Sutra Transformation showcases architecture similar to Emperor Taizong's Daming Palace, symbolizing the merging of religious and political authority. This demonstrates the close relationship between religion and politics during that time.

Tang Dynasty (618-907) Mural painting in Cave 220 of Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, Gansu Province.

This piece is compiled from the Chinese edition of Three Thousand Years of Chinese Painting by Foreign Languages Press and Yale University Press, translated by Chen Ying.