The Millennium Immortality Mystery of Dunhuang Murals

Because China had a high skill in pigment invention and production and chemical technology more than 1600 years ago, it was related to the use of stable mineral pigments in painting at that time. The pigments in Dunhuang murals mainly come from imported gems, natural minerals and synthetic compounds.

There are 552 grottoes in Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, Xiqian Buddha Cave and Yulin Grottoes, with more than 50,000 square meters of murals in previous dynasties, which are the largest grottoes in the world and rich in content. After thousands of years, well-preserved murals and colored sculptures are still colorful.

Dunhuang murals are the main part of Dunhuang art, with huge scale and exquisite skills. It is one of the four largest grottoes in China and is listed as the world intangible cultural heritage.

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By studying the mural pigments of Dunhuang Grottoes in different ages, we can not only prove that China was one of the first countries to use lapis lazuli, verdigris, Lithuanian, red alum and mica powder as pigments in paintings, but also show that China's ancient chemical technology and pigment preparation skills were at the world's leading level at that time.

People's Daily Online-The discovery of Dunhuang cave site in Gansu Province is suspected to be the source of mural pigments in Mogao Grottoes.

Baidu encyclopedia-Dunhuang murals