Mural Painting Storeroom in Shaanxi History Museum of Xian city, experience the imperatorial life in Tang Dynasty (706AD)
In Tang Dynasty(618-907AD), ancient China was the most civilized country in the world. Xian, named Chang'an at that time, was not only the capital of Tang Kingdom, but also the national political, economical and cultural center as well as the famous international metropolis. It is difficult to image how people live during such a golden era. If you have a chance to visit Mural Painting Storeroom in Shaanxi History Museum, xian city and watch the mural painting excavated in the royal family's tombs, you will surely know it.
The Mural Painting Storeroom stores about 500 pieces of mural paintings which are all excavated from emperor family's tombs. All the ancient paintings were be painted by a special mineral pigment and could last for thousands of years without fade. The storeroom does not open to the public and only a few travel agencies could arrange the visit for small group or individual tourists. Lots of government leaders and distinguished visitors from all over the world like US former-president Clinton visited there.
Due to the marketing purpose, my agent arranged me to visit the storeroom and one senior archeologist (Prof. Wang) gave us a full explanation about the mural paintings. Prof. Wang kindly allowed me to take few photos, which is usually prohibited there.
The visit was very very impressive and the life in Tang Dynasty (1300 years ago) seems to be displayed vividly in front of you.
I watched the paintings from Crown Print Yide's Tomb (706 AD) and Crown Prince Zhanghuai's tomb (711 AD).
From the mural painting below, you could see how the people play the polo in 1300 years ago. People wearing long but close-fitting gown are riding on the horse, holding polo stick to play a colored ball. Prof.Wang told me a true story that some royals from Europe let themselves kneel down and sob before the painting because it remind them of what their ancestors lived in Europe.
Mrs. Madeleine Korbel Albright, the former Secretary of United State, also found her peer colleague but lived in Tang Dynasty from the mural painting below. The painting reveals that the foreign missions are waiting for the meeting with the emperor.
If you are interested in how the ancient people hunt, you could know it from the 2 paintings (actually one painting in the tomb but divided up for movement) below. The Crown Print Yide is leading a train of attendants who riding on horses and use both dromedary and Bactrian Camels to carry the goods.
Prof. Wong also showed me how the archaeologists move and protect the mural paintings from the tomb to storeroom here in 1950's:
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