A Tang dynasty tomb with vibrant artwork has offered the world a look at 8th-century Chinese life. Most intriguingly, the paintings include a blond, bearded man, indicating Western influence.
The tomb was found during a 2018 hillside road rehabilitation project in Shanxi Province’s capital, but researchers hadn’t disclosed it until now.
The tomb is believed to have belonged to a 63-year-old Tang dynasty man who passed in 736 AD. He and his wife were buried together.
A tomb adorned with a pair of figures flanking the entrance and several portraits of individuals. Images of women milling grain, men preparing pasta, and ladies filling oranges with water were unearthed by the Jinyang Ancient City Research Institute.
After the brief Sui dynasty (581-618 BC) ruled China, the Tang dynasty (618-907 BC) established a new system of administration based on the Sui and sparked a golden period of art and culture.
The eight vignettes on the burial site are in the ‘people beneath the tree’ style, which depicts ordinary life under artistic trees. The scenes show the Tang dynasty’s life and duties in a new light. One person on the tomb had blonde hair and a beard, while the others were Han. Perhaps the Westerner is a Central Asian Sogdian (ancient Iranian).
A little brick building, the tomb included gates, passageways, murals, and a pedestal for the coffins. The murals may depict guards clad in yellow robes and wielding swords, while the vaulted ceiling has a resemblance to a dragon.
A woman in a vibrantly colored robe guides four horses, and a man brandishes a whip. Males and females hold ceremonial containers, and an elderly man points his ax toward a snake while carrying firewood and a cup. Flowers, cattle, mountains, and trees are included in the drawings.
The painting provides glimpses into the everyday lives and unusual tasks of the Tang dynasty.
