Tomb Mural
ANIMATED MURALS

Three representative Tang Dynasty tomb murals are presented as animations. In this exhibition, the 42 Tang dynasty tomb murals have been rearranged according to content. Along both sides of the passageway, millennia-old social customs of the Tang are grouped in the following order: ritual architecture, palace ceremonies, and costumes and cosmet」ics, creating a rich multimedia experience of high Tang culture.

Etiquette and Ceremonies
“In the tower, there lived a great many celestial beings who were possessed of a feminine grace.” Bai Juyi, “Song of Everlasting Regret.”

The Sanchuque, or Triple Gate Tower (consisting of a gate tower flanked by two smaller ones) was the most prestigious ritual building. “Treating a tomb as a mausoleum” (hao mu wei ling) refers to a funerary practice in which a person was buried with the same rites and accompaniments as an emperor. This was the most solemn way of commemorating a dead person in ancient China. Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang dynasty had his young son, Prince Yide, and young daughter, Princess Yongtai, buried in this manner as an expression of his profound grief.

Hunting and Leisure
“His body askew and elbow bent, the player hugged the horse’s abdomen; with lightning speed his hand sent the ball forth like a magical pearl.” Han Yu, “Biansi jiaoliu, A Poem Written for Zhang Jianfeng.”

The Tang royalty and nobility were passionate polo players. Regarded as an expression of power and courage, polo was one of the most important forms of recreation. Highly competitive and boisterous, polo also embodied the martial values of the Tang.

Music and Dance of the Tang Dynasty
“Clattering and murmuring, meshing interweaving sounds, like pearls, big and small, falling on a platter of jade.” Bai Juyi, “Song of the Pipa.”

Foreign exchanges and trade flourished during the Tang dynasty, and music and instruments entered China from the West, including the pipa, which became one of the most popular. By turns melancholy and heroic, pipa music moved the souls of the Tang people. Along with the dance style of the Hu people, pipa music became extremely fashionable during the Tang dynasty.

Court Life
“A beautiful lady wearing make-up complementing her dark hair and wearing a pomegranate-red dress sits on a red-spotted horse”. Du Shenyan（or Zhang Wei）, “A Poem Written for the Beauty Zhao.”

The nine court ladies pace elegantly, each in her own charming way. They reflect the manner that was in vogue at the time. Their hair is done up in various coiled buns; their foreheads are made up in the plum blossom style (huadian); their lips are painted red (dianchun); and their cheeks are highlighted with red dots (yemian). They wear colorful long robes that touch the ground. This scene showcases the Tang dynasty’s celebrated standards of female beauty.