The Ceremonial Weaponry

Step into the ancient tomb passage adorned with mesmerizing wall paintings, each over 26 meters long. Witness a grand procession leaving the city, accompanied by a colossal green dragon and a white tiger amidst towering mountains and lush trees. Despite upper damage, the unique style shines through in reddish-brown hues infused with vibrant shades. Enhanced by light and shadow techniques, these paintings boast a striking three-dimensional effect. Characterized by stone green contour lines, they exude extraordinary power and intensity, with sharp ink lines delineating rugged rock formations akin to forceful "iron lines."

Tang Dynasty (618-907) Height 351cm. Mural painting in tomb of Prince Yide, Qianxian county, Shanxi 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.