The Relations Between The Nationalities Reflected By The Exotic Elements Found On The Wall Paintings From The Tang Tombs

The consistent archaeological discoveries of the Tang dynasty provided comprehensive and reliable materials for the studies of nationality relationship of the Tang dynasty. This thesis uses the archaeological materials of the mural paintings from the Tang tombs to study the history of the nationality relationships of the Tang dynasty. Based upon the published works of the pioneering scholars, the author combines the unearthed materials of the mural paintings and the historical resources on the research of the complicated national relationships of the Tang dynasty by3chapters and16sections. He makes attempts to build a logical research system of Tang nationality relationships through the angle of the Tang mural paintings by combining subjects of history, sociology, archaeology, iconography, ethnology and so on.First, this thesis classifies and analysis the contents of the Tang mural paintings from the aspects of imperial rituals, secular lives, art, architecture, deities, nationality relationships and astrology, based on the scientific study of the Tang mural paintings. Secondly, this thesis also gives a detailed analysis of the origin, migration, variation and the influence of the exotic elements based upon the mural painting subjects like non-Chinese figures, exotic objects, exotic fashions, exotic food and drinks, exotic entertainment, polo ball sport, acrobatics and some religious factors etc. Last but not least, based on the analysis of the evolvement background of the Tang nationality relationship, this thesis does comprehensive researches of the exotic cultural factors and the practice of national relationship in different political stages. This thesis also pays attention to the trends of both the thought and the practice of the Tang national relationships, the unequal relationships between the central government and the foreign countries, the national relationships influenced by the policies of paying tribute to the Tang imperial court, and the multi-cultural influences brought by the communications among the Tang nationalities. The cultural factors of the neighboring regions in the Tang dynasty showed in the Tang mural paintings are both the visual reflection of Tang exotic elements and the historical evidence of communication and development among different regions. The outspreading Tang culture, the exotic fashion in the Tang dynasty and the comparison researches of the Tang tombs belonged to both the Han and other nationalities referred in this thesis are still need deeper researches.