Tomb Murals Research Articles

Reflections on Visual and Material Sources for the History of the Exact Sciences in Early Imperial China.

This article takes stock of the seeming wealth of visual and material sources concerning stars and numbers that has come down to us from early imperial China (221 BCE-755CE) and their minimal impact on how we write the history of astronomy and mathematics in this period. My goal is to offer ideas about how we might better engage with these sources and work across ancient and modern disciplines. Ibegin by outlining the conceptual categories into which our historical subjects divided these sciences, followed by an overview of those visual and material sources we know from textual sources to have once existed versus those that are currently extant. The historiographic disconnect, Iargue, is due in part to an inherent disconnect in the sources that have survived and, in some degree, to terminological and categorical confusion between those working in the history of science, divination, and art. Pointing to what are, in my opinion, good examples of how we might move forward and beyond the limits imposed by our sources and disciplinary boundaries, Ithen end on alist of questions Ithink fruitful to explore. What, for example, do we mean by "accuracy" when speaking of how constellations are represented in technical literature and tomb murals?

고구려 고분벽화와 북방․유라시아미술 연구성과와 과제

고구려 고분벽화와 북방․유라시아미술 연구성과와 과제

The Implications of Koguryo Tomb Murals for South-North Korea Exchange and Cooperation

The Implications of Koguryo Tomb Murals for South-North Korea Exchange and Cooperation

고대 이집트의 스포츠 복식 분석

The purpose of this study was to analyze the types of sports and the characteristics of the sports costume prevalent in ancient Egypt as part of the study of the Egyptian costumes and understanding the sports culture of the Middle East nation. The method of this study is a literature study, which investigated ancient tomb murals, paintings, and schematics in literature as well as literature related to Egypt’s ancient sports history, and analyzed the sports costume characteristics of Egypt by referring to the ancient tomb murals and materials sourced through Internet searches. Based on prior research and literature, ancient Egyptian sports were classified as royal sports and general public sports, and the sports costume was analyzed by classifying it into the type of clothing, fabrics, colors, headdress, ornaments, and shoes. The results of this study were as follow; First, the sports of ancient Egyptians were classified into the sports of the royal family and the sports of the general public, depending on the subject of practice. The sports of the royal family were a display of royal authority and physical superiority, and the sports usually engaged in were running, archery, chariot racing, and hunting wild animals, fish, and birds. The sports of the general public were running, high jumping, wrestling, stick fighting, boxing, swimming, and acrobatics. Second, the king wore a loincloth for running, a kilt and shendot for archery and chariot racing, and a gala skirt and kalasiris for hunting. Most fabrics were comprised of white linen. The king wore a symbolic white crown and a khepresh with uraeus, a kind of helmet on his head. He wore a wig while hunting. He had a fascium around his neck, a bracelet on his arm, and his shoes were mostly barefoot. Third, in the sport of the general public, they were nude during jumping and swimming, wore a knee-length kilt for wrestling and stick fighting, and an open-ended loincloth for acrobatics. White linen was used as a fabric. This study is meaningful in that it analyzes the sports costume, a new area of research relative to the ancient Egyptian costume.

Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography for the non-invasive investigation of the pigment layers of Tang Dynasty tomb murals exhibited in museums

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive subsurface three-dimensional imaging technique based on the Michelson interferometer. Due to the nature of non-invasive detection and high-speed acquisition, OCT is efficient for imaging intact objects to generate a complete overview of their microstructure. This paper presents the investigation of the pigment layer and ground layer of three Tang Dynasty tomb murals exhibited in museums with Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). The investigation results demonstrated that SD-OCT system can obtain clear images of the subsurface microstructure and preservation status of ancient murals and can precisely locate and measure the location of the mural defect, by means of en-face image, the system can distinguish the draft line covered by pigment layer. The SD-OCT is an attractive alternative for cultural heritage research and high-resolution OCT images can provide valuable information for Chinese cultural heritage research, identification, and conservation.

‘2018 평창동계올림픽’에 재현된 고구려 고분벽화 연구 - ‘무용총’ ‘강서대묘'의 무용도, 사신도, 인면조를 중심으로 -

‘2018 평창동계올림픽’에 재현된 고구려 고분벽화 연구 - ‘무용총’ ‘강서대묘'의 무용도, 사신도, 인면조를 중심으로 -

옥도리벽화분으로 본 고구려의 지역문화

Nampo was both the gateway to and part of Pyeongyang. The foreign culture that entered through Nampo either stayed there or moved on into Pyeongyang. In the early 5th century when Pyeongyang was becoming the new capital of Koguryo, the Koguryo culture that flourished in Guknaeseong of Jian also moved through Nampo into Pyeongyang. Nampo culture that had retained strong legacy of Han culture came under the influence of Koguryo’s Jian Guknaeseong culture and met the influx of northern culture in the early 5th century.<BR> Okdori Mural Tomb is a two-chamber tomb with tabernacle built in Nampo region. Most of the mural motives are typical to Nampo region tomb murals. Okdori Mural Tomb’s tabernacle is that in the stage of decline but an altar still stands in front. Such tomb structure reflects the period in change when the concept of soul and altar diminished but persisted.<BR> The composition and expressive technique of Okdori mural tomb also show both the tradition and the new trends. Some of the figures in the mural wear round collars while other wear straight collar. Some figures wear guanmo (an official hat) with bird feathers. Dancers who dance while wearing not a pointed jeolpung but a rectangular guanmo with a bird feather are not easily found in tomb murals of Pyeongyang region. Only in Okdori Mural Tomb can we find huntsmen on horseback who in Deokheungri Mural Tomb roamed the curved mountain ranges chase game in vertically organized space. Placing a pair of Hyeonmu in the ceiling corners and depicting the deceased couple on the walls also differ from the typical composition of motifs in Pyeongyang region tomb murals.<BR> Okdori Mural Tomb shows the distinct coexistence and fusion of northern and southern cultural element. It shows that the Nampo culture of the early 5th century while under strong Koguryo influence maintained elements of Han culture when the new culture was emerging.

The Study of the Replica Paintings of Koguryo Tomb Murals

The Study of the Replica Paintings of Koguryo Tomb Murals

Mortar Characteristics for Reinforcement of Ancient Tomb Murals Using Oyster Shells

The application of reinforcing agents with hydraulic property and strength development characteristics was studied under conditions similar to those of mural-painting mortar made with oyster shell powder. Reinforcement mortar made with oyster shell powder showed hydraulic properties and strength to supplement the weaknesses of natural hydraulic lime(NHL); this confirmed its possibility as a wall-reinforcing material with enough strength for preserving mural paintings. Reinforcement mortar 1 showed hydraulic property and general characteristics of lime mortar, such as consistency and viscosity, as well as lower strength and higher whiteness compared to an NHL product. For Reinforcement mortar 2, the original wall sample characteristics were reflected by mixing more shell produced through calcination; and it showed similar strength to that of Reinforcement mortar 1 as well as high whiteness. In measuring the contraction ratio of reinforcement mortar samples, Reinforcement mortar 1 and 2 showed more stability in property change compared to the NHL Group.

Value and Meaning of Koguryŏ Tomb Murals as Cultural Heritage

Value and Meaning of Koguryŏ Tomb Murals as Cultural Heritage

Reconsidering Iconography of Twelve Chinese Zodiac Signs in Tomb Murals of the Goryeo Dynasty

Reconsidering Iconography of Twelve Chinese Zodiac Signs in Tomb Murals of the Goryeo Dynasty

고구려 고분벽화의 해 · 달 문양을 응용한 유 · 아동 신한복 디자인 개발

고구려 고분벽화의 해 · 달 문양을 응용한 유 · 아동 신한복 디자인 개발

Extracting faded mural patterns based on the combination of spatial-spectral feature of hyperspectral image

Abstract Compared with other wall paintings, tomb murals are rarely and have been most seriously damaged by natural weathering, erosion of bacteria and vandalism. Traditional identification methods are time-consuming, laborious, and confined to the visible light range, which mainly relies on expert's experience, analogy and visual color. This calls for new recording methods for mural site protection, relics restoration and repairs. Hyperspectral imaging can capture pictures of spectral range from visible to near infrared light, which render visual enhancement of faded tomb murals. This paper presents a method that can extract faded mural pattern from the hyperspectral images of mural, taking the leaf-like mural patterns in typical Tang dynasty tomb in China as an example. In the method, the faded leaf-like patterns are highlighted through normalization of sensitive spectral bands and extracted by density slice and masking on image space. The result shows that the method can extract the target pattern efficiently with the simple operations.

Differences in the classic period mortuary treatment of adults and children in the Valley of Oaxaca

In size and architectural monumentality, Monte Albán dominated the Valley of Oaxaca during the Classic period (ca. 50–850CE). The magnificent mortuary offerings, including painted tomb murals, of this period have been the focus of research into Zapotec mortuary practices across the Valley of Oaxaca, although burial contexts from this period also have been studied at other settlements. Despite this research, the remains of human children and their burial contexts have been largely ignored. Our main goal is to characterize, compare, and contrast the Classic-period mortuary practices for Zapotec children with those for adults. A previous hypothesis based on evidence from Teotihuacán and Monte Albán asserted that children in Mesoamerica were buried differently than adults. Although such differences may have been practiced at large urban centers, we endeavor to examine whether similar distinctions are evidenced at Classic period secondary sites in the Valley of Oaxaca. Our research tests this question in respect to mortuary practices through the analysis of 175 individuals, excavated in 15 different households from five archaeological sites, Atzompa, Lambityeco, the Mitla Fortress, El Palmillo, and Ejutla, all large, secondary settlements during the Classic period.

A Study on Representation of the Female Hair Styles of the Anak Tomb No. 3

The Goguryeo Tomb Mural is a precious cultural heritage, which was designated as an UNESCO World Heritage on July 2004 and contains ancient culture. Especially, the hair styles of the Anak Tomb No. 3 owner

Food Culture of Tomb of An-Ak No. 3 in Koguryo Dynasty

The aim of this study was to investigate food culture represented by the grain yard, water well, kitchen, and meat storage space which were depicted in the mural painting of An-Ak tomb No. 3. The mural paintings of An-Ak tomb No. 3 were compared with those of ancient Chinese tombs before the 4th century in order to understand their characteristics. Above all, the tomb murals describe the form and function of the stove (buttumak) as well as the cuisine using the cauldron (sot) and steamer (siru) in a very interesting manner. The meat storage space of An-Ak tomb No. 3 shows whole carcasses of animals such as roe deer, dog, and pig. However, Chinese murals show that while small animals such as soft-shelled turtle, fish, chicken, duck, pheasant, rabbit, etc. were stored as whole carcasses without being cut into pieces, large animals such as cows and pigs were slaughtered and each piece of their carcasses such as the head, thigh, meat loaf, and cardiopulmonary part was separately depicted. These tomb murals vividly describe the food culture of Koguryo and China before the 4th century.

Perceptual Uniform Simulation for Tang Tomb Mural Inpainting by Camera Array

Perceptual Uniform Simulation for Tang Tomb Mural Inpainting by Camera Array

Tea Utensils Represented on the Tomb Mural Paintings of Foreign Exchange Countries with Koryo Dynasty

The present study addresses the tea utensils and tea drinking methods seen in tomb mural paintings of Song, Liao, Jin, and Yuan, which were Koryo's foreign exchange countries. The paintings illustrate the pointing tea method, which was popular during dynasty times. Tea utensils observed in the paintings include a tea mill, mill stone, and tea pestle necessary for making cake tea into powder. The tea stove and boiling bottle are depicted as being required to boil water. Some mural works vividly depict how a tea drinker pours hot water from a boiling bottle into a cup with a stand, mixes it with a tea spoon, and whisks tea powder for foaming with a tea whisk. The tea drinking method of the Southern race Han is also similarly described in the tomb mural paintings of Liao, Jin, and Yuan from Northern nomads. The distribution of tea culture had an enormous influence on the development of tea utensil manufacturing methods. The significance of this study is that these findings can be used as basic data to provide food culture insights into Koryo celadon tea utensils.

Alcohol Beverage Utensils Represented on the Tomb Mural Paintings of Foreign Exchange Countries with Koryo Dynasty

This study is on the alcohol beverage utensils represented on the Chinese tomb mural paintings of Song, Liao, Jin, and Yuan those countries had foreign exchange with Koryo Dynasty. These mural paintings are distributed in the areas such as Hebei, Henan, Inner mongolia, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Peijing. etc. The Alcohol beverage vessels were classified mainly into storage vessel, pouring vessel, drinking vessel and ladles according to the purpose. The storage vessels of Song, Liao and Jin were called Jiuping, Jingping, Jiuzun as well as Meiping. Pouring vessels are basically one set of Zhuzi, Wenwan and Jiuzhu, or Zhuhu and Zhuwan. On the mural paintings of Yuan Dynasty, Meiping as storage vessels disappear, and a variety of shapes of pouring vessels such as Mayu and Yuhuchunping appear. This trend indirectly indicates the new arrival of distilled liquor, which seems to have affected transition of the alcohol beverage utensils.

Claims of Buddhist Relics in the Eastern Han Tomb Murals at Horinger: Issues in the Historiography of the Introduction of Buddhism to China

Claims of Buddhist Relics in the Eastern Han Tomb Murals at Horinger: Issues in the Historiography of the Introduction of Buddhism to China