• About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Archaeology News
  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum
Archaeology News
No Result
View All Result
Home News Archaeology

Tang Dynasty tomb with exquisite murals discovered in China

by Dario Radley
July 8, 2024

Archaeologists have unearthed a tomb dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) in China’s Shanxi Province. The discovery, made during construction activities in Taiyuan in 2018, has revealed a treasure trove of well-preserved murals.

Tang Dynasty tomb with exquisite murals discovered in China
Panoramic view of the burial chamber. Credit: Jinyang Ancient City Research Institute, Taiyuan Cultural Relics Protection Research Institute

The tomb, which dates to the 8th century CE, features vibrant murals painted in a spectrum of colors, including white, red, yellow, black, green, and orange. These murals cover every surface of the tomb except for the floor, showcasing scenes of daily life, mythological creatures, and artistic motifs typical of the Tang Dynasty. The excavation has been led by the Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology, which has meticulously studied the site since its discovery.

The tomb’s entrance is adorned with swirling botanical designs in red and yellow-orange hues. A pair of robed figures believed to be guardians are depicted on either side of the tomb door. Similar guardian figures are painted along the corridor leading to the main burial chamber. Inside the chamber, the conical ceiling features fantastical beasts such as dragons, outlined by thick red ribbons and floral patterns on a white background. The walls are decorated with rectangular panels outlined in red, depicting individuals in various postures and activities under stylized trees, a popular Tang-era style known as “figure under the tree.”

The murals provide a rich portrayal of daily life during the Tang Dynasty. One panel on the east wall features multiple scenes: a man rolling a stone grinder to peel grain shells, a woman working a stone mill, a man making dough balls with an iron pan on fire, another man using a rice pounding tool, a woman drawing water from a well with a counterweight device, and a woman doing laundry in a basin.

Another significant mural on the west wall depicts a woman in a multicolored gown holding a box, accompanied by a man from a non-Han ethnic group, holding the reins of camels and horses. This depiction is particularly notable as camels, though not native to China, frequently appear in Chinese tomb art and sculptures, highlighting the influence of the Silk Road and cultural exchanges during the Tang era.

RelatedStories

Ancient Xiaohe boat burials reveal symbolic water journey into the afterlife, new study finds. (Illustration by Anja Schorneck). Credit: Caspari, G., Asian Archaeology (2025)

Ancient Xiaohe boat burials reveal symbolic water journey into the afterlife, new study finds

June 14, 2025
Ancient DNA reveals prehistoric matrilineal society shaped Neolithic China’s burial practices

Ancient DNA reveals prehistoric matrilineal society shaped Neolithic China’s burial practices

June 10, 2025

Long Zhen, the director of the Jinyang Ancient City Archaeological Institute, has drawn parallels between these murals and those found in the tomb of Wang Shenzi, who founded the dynastic state of Min (909-945) during the Ten Kingdoms period. The artistic style of the murals in the newly discovered tomb in Taiyuan is strikingly similar to that in Wang Shenzi’s tomb. It is possible that the same artist created both sets of murals.

The tomb’s discovery adds significant knowledge to our understanding of Tang Dynasty art and daily life. The “figure under the tree” style, characterized by strong outlines and simple shading, gives the murals a two-dimensional appearance that was prevalent in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province, during the Tang period. This style contrasts with the more three-dimensional and intricate murals found in the Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang, another significant site along the Silk Road.

Share1Tweet1ShareShareSend

You May Also Like...

1,600-year-old tomb of Caracol’s founding king Te K’ab Chaak unearthed in Belize jungle
Anthropology

1,600-year-old tomb of Caracol’s founding king Te K’ab Chaak unearthed in Belize jungle

July 12, 2025
11,000-year-old feast in Iran’s Zagros Mountains reveals long-distance animal transport and early Neolithic social rituals
Archaeology

11,000-year-old feast in Iran’s Zagros Mountains reveals long-distance animal transport and early Neolithic social rituals

July 12, 2025
UNESCO adds Iran’s Khorramabad Valley to World Heritage List, highlighting 60,000 years of human history
Anthropology

UNESCO adds Iran’s Khorramabad Valley to World Heritage List, highlighting 60,000 years of human history

July 12, 2025
5,500-year-old 'Polish pyramids' discovered in western Poland reveal Neolithic engineering
Anthropology

5,500-year-old ‘Polish pyramids’ discovered in western Poland reveal Neolithic engineering

July 11, 2025
17th-century Gullberg’s fortress in Gothenburg brought to life through 3D reconstruction
Archaeology

17th-century Gullberg’s fortress in Gothenburg brought to life through 3D reconstruction

July 11, 2025
Neanderthals turned cave lion bones into multifunctional tools 130,000 years ago, study reveals
Anthropology

Neanderthals turned cave lion bones into multifunctional tools 130,000 years ago, study reveals

July 10, 2025

Follow us


Instagram
247K

Facebook
110K

Threads
43K

LinkedIn
12K

Twitter
6K

YouTube
1K
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Shipwreck Salvage. Credit: rawpixel.com / Public Domain

2,000-year-old shipwreck discovered off Turkish coast with remarkably preserved stacked ceramics

July 2, 2025
Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

May 18, 2025
Neanderthals operated prehistoric “fat factory” 125,000 years ago on German lakeshore, study finds

Neanderthals operated prehistoric “fat factory” 125,000 years ago on German lakeshore

July 3, 2025
Exceptionally large Roman shoes discovered at Magna fort near Hadrian’s Wall

Exceptionally large Roman shoes discovered at Magna fort near Hadrian’s Wall

July 3, 2025
Genetic study reveals the origin and diversity of the Huns

European Huns were not of Turkic origin but had ancient Siberian roots, linguistic study reveals

June 24, 2025
$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius' eruption

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius’ eruption

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado's expedition

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado’s expedition

1,600-year-old tomb of Caracol’s founding king Te K’ab Chaak unearthed in Belize jungle

1,600-year-old tomb of Caracol’s founding king Te K’ab Chaak unearthed in Belize jungle

July 12, 2025
11,000-year-old feast in Iran’s Zagros Mountains reveals long-distance animal transport and early Neolithic social rituals

11,000-year-old feast in Iran’s Zagros Mountains reveals long-distance animal transport and early Neolithic social rituals

July 12, 2025
UNESCO adds Iran’s Khorramabad Valley to World Heritage List, highlighting 60,000 years of human history

UNESCO adds Iran’s Khorramabad Valley to World Heritage List, highlighting 60,000 years of human history

July 12, 2025
5,500-year-old 'Polish pyramids' discovered in western Poland reveal Neolithic engineering

5,500-year-old ‘Polish pyramids’ discovered in western Poland reveal Neolithic engineering

July 11, 2025
17th-century Gullberg’s fortress in Gothenburg brought to life through 3D reconstruction

17th-century Gullberg’s fortress in Gothenburg brought to life through 3D reconstruction

July 11, 2025

Archaeology News online magazine

Archaeology News is an international online magazine that covers all aspects of archaeology.











Categories

  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • Download
  • Game
  • News
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Paleontology
  • Quiz
  • Tours

Subscribe to our newsletter

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum

About  .  Contact  .  Donation

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved

We use cookies to improve your experience and enable functionality and security of this site. Further detail is available in our Privacy Policy. By accepting all cookies, you consent to our use of cookies and use of data.