Liao Dynasty Tomb Murals Study

Historical art research upon the mural paintings of Liao tombs is a brand-new area. This thesis focused on the mural paintings of the three tombs, i.e. Eastern Qingling, Kulun, and Xuanhua, as they represent different classes, different nationalities and different local customs in Liao Dynasty. A visual analysis and interpretation of the art style and features presented had been made in this thesis, together with a comparative and holistic study into the paintings, including their subjects, patterns, composite layout and technique styles, etc. The ethical and regional characteristics strongly reflected by the mural paintings of Liao tombs have largely enriched the connotations of multinational Chinese art. Therefore, clarifying the basic outline of Liao art to supply the gap is significantly important to the research of Chinese art history.The art in Liao Dynasty had assimilated nutrients from the painting traditions in the central area of China, and much effort had been put into construction of Liao's culture. By studying into the internal evolution as well as the external social interaction of Liao mural painting, the author expected that the common features of Liao art and the motivating factors could be comprehended in a high level, and contribution could be made in both wideness and depth of the research of Liao art history.This thesis tried to examine the Liao art in the context of Tang and Song history, and to explore the relationship of Liao art with the multinational art history in China. The research work would be helpful to find new theory to explain the transition of art in Tang and Song Dynasty, and also helpful to recognize how art and cultural was interacted to give Chinese art history a form of diversity in unity of the Chinese nation.