Research And Utilization On Tangible Cultural Heritage Resources Of Liao Dynasty In Inner Mongolia

Inner Mongolia is the region of northern nomadic activity since ancient times. Huns, Sarbi, Turks, Khitan, Mongolian and other ethnic groups had appeared on the stage of history from here, creating a unique grassland culture, they had made brilliant immortal contributions to 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.Rising in the Huangshui and Tuhe in the eastern part of Inner Mongolia, after hundreds of years of wind and rain, Khitan finally established a hung Liao Dynasty across the Great Wall in the early tenth century. Under the influence of the Central Plains culture, they built cities, established legislative level, created writing, developed handicraft, making the northern prairie region’s political, economic and cultural development to unprecedented heights, also leaving a renowned reputation in the world stage. After the dynasty moved about freely and quickly for more than 200 years in the land of China, however, they mysteriously disappeared. Scattered and limited historical records make it difficult to understand their brilliant cause comprehensively, so we must find historical information about them by the legacy of the tangible cultural heritages.As the birthplace of the Khitan ethnic, the capital location and ruling center of Liao dynasty, Inner Mongolia have preserved the richest, the most national and local characteristics tangible cultural heritages of the Liao Dynasty. These precious heritages, to some extent, can reflect the development of the political, economic, cultural, trade and other aspects of that era, and are physical witness of the glorious history of the Khitan ethnic, also are important physical carrier of grassland culture. Analysis and study of these heritages will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the Liao dynasty history and culture, as well as the status of Liao Dynasty in Chinese history.From the development history of Liao dynasty, Khitan ethnic is an open, accommodating, good at learning and creative people. Around the founding of the empire, especially getting Sixteen Prefectures and signing "Chanyuan Alliance "with the Northern Song Dynasty, They contacted closely with the Central Plains and were affected by Central Plains culture gradually deepening. The developments of Liao dynasty city from scratch, from small to large, and its burial customs from the "Tomb refuses" to "build the tomb Departures", are the results of influence of the Central Plains cultural. Meanwhile, some national inherent traditions and customs have been preserved and become the symbols of the Khitan ethnic culture. Liao also payed attention to contact and communicate with the western regions and the western countries through the Steppe Silk Road, thus a series of historical relics with western cultural factors were uncovered, such as designs or decorations of Capricorn or Kalavinka with Indian culture factors, glassware of Islamic world and handle cups influenced by Sogdian culture. So Liao dynasty tangible cultural heritages have more obvious signs of cultural exchange. City cites and tombs have strong bicultural features and historical relics show multicultural features, both unique items reflecting Khitan ethnic customs, and artifacts of communicating with the Central Plains and Western cultural or affected by them.Liao dynasty tangible cultural heritages in Inner Mongolia have the outstanding historical, artistic and scientific value. Liao is an important era in the history of China, It was the Liao dynasty that the large areas including the Mongolian plateau, the northeast and Yanyun region achieved unprecedented unification, the Great Wall is no longer a dividing line among the ethnic groups. Khitan enthic absorbed massively advanced culture of the Central Plains, and widespread them in other nations of the empire, forming the identity to the Chinese culture, playing an important role in promoting the formation of the cultural pattern of diversity in unity of the Chinese nation. But the lack of historical data make the Liao history studies become extremely weak link in Chinese ancient history research. In this case, It’s very necessary to reproduce the real condition of politics, economy and culture at that time with the help of tangible cultural heritages, this is the important embodiment of the historical value of Liao dynasty tangible culture heritages. Liao dynasty had also made an outstanding contribution to the culture of motherland in the arts. Liao Tower is a bright spot in the history of the development of Chinese pagoda, In the process of construction, They both inherited and absorbed the essence of Tang, Song pagoda architecture arts, and had their own innovations. Known as "the last flash of the ancient Chinese tomb murals", Liao tomb murals t fully demonstrated the unique characteristics of Liao dynasty social life and culture scene, the artistic style of "North Prairie Art Group" had a unique style in Chinese art history. Liao dynasty had many achievements in medicine, astronomy, printing and other aspects, too. "Khitan female corpse", astronomy picture, engravings of Buddhist scriptures and handwriting being found are embodiment of Liao science and technology level.Most of the Liao tangible cultural heritage resources in Inner Mongolia distribute in economic, cultural relatively backward counties and rural and pastoral areas, protection and utilization is still in its infancy. Although some works have been done, they didn’t cause the attention of related fields, most parties concerned didn’t well publicize the works what they have done and didn’t save materials, resulting the information in this regard few and scattered. Collecting and organizing these materials is helpful for further research in the future.The current task is strengthening the protection and research of the cultural heritage resources and carrying on the rational use under the guidance of the principle of national heritage work policy, in order to highlight the features and advantages of the Khitan ethnic cultural heritages, play their important role in enhancing cultural soft power in Inner Mongolia, building the strong zone of national culture.