Near the city of Taiyuan in north-central China, workers tasked with upkeeping the local roads made an astonishing archaeological discovery: a tomb from the Tang Dynasty, adorned with murals depicting daily life in extraordinary detail.
The tomb is located on a hillside near the old Jin Ci West Central Ring Road in Taiyuan and features a brick chamber, entranceway, and corridor.
According to experts, it dates back to around 736 CE during the Tang Dynasty.
A Glimpse into Tang Dynasty Life
This time period saw the Chinese Empire reach its greatest territorial extent and become a cosmopolitan realm of luxury, highly developed in arts, letters, and commerce.
Several of the most famous rulers of China date to this period, including the concubine-turned-Empress Wu Zetian and the domineering Emperor Taizong, who created much of the control and prosperity the dynasty enjoyed.
The tomb is adorned with murals depicting household chores and scenes from the bustling Silk Road.
Photo: Jinyang Ancient City Research Institute, Taiyuan Cultural Relics Protection Research Institute
Unlike the traditional dragon and heavenly palace motifs, these murals illustrate men and women engaged in everyday activities like stepping on and scooping rice, grinding grain, making noodles, bathing, and drawing water from a well using an unusual device mounted in an orange tree.
One particularly intriguing panel depicts a “Westerner” with blonde hair holding the reins of an Asian camel and several horses.
This figure is likely a Sogdian, a trading people from the Tarim Basin or possibly Transoxiana, regions traversed by Silk Road traders before entering China through the Jade Gate and the Gansu Corridor.
The Tang Dynasty's interactions with various cultures along the Silk Road are well-documented, and this mural provides a vivid illustration of such encounters.
Photo: Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology
The tomb also contains panels likely showing its owners: a man in his sixties and a woman, depicted under trees in a style known as “figure under a tree,” which dates back to the Han Dynasty.
Another set of panels shows yellow-robed sword bearers at the tomb’s entrance, alongside doormen holding the coffin and standing in welcoming positions.
The ceiling is adorned with mythical beasts, probably dragons or phoenixes, adding a touch of the fantastical to the otherwise realistic scenes.
The preservation and detail of the murals provide invaluable insights into the daily lives and interactions of people during one of China’s most prosperous eras.
This news was covered in Global Times.
