After the late Tang Dynasty, where were the algae wells painted in the caves?

Open caisson is a kind of structure of ancient buildings in China, which is attached to the top of the building and protrudes upward in the shape of a wellhead. As one of the decorative arts in China, its architectural decoration is very artistic and visually expressive. Some aquatic plants, such as lotus flowers and lotus leaves, will be depicted in primitive algae wells, and people expect to avoid fires by depicting aquatic plants.

Similarly, in that era when life and death were valued, people brought this beautiful expectation to the grottoes. Therefore, algae wells can be found in the tombs at that time, for example, the prototype of algae wells in caves can be seen in the Han tomb of Dahuting two thousand years ago. Then with the passage of time, algae wells are also developing.

In the late Tang Dynasty, after Shazhou General Zhang Yichao expelled the Tubo rulers, Dunhuang, a place occupied by the Tubo forces for a long time, finally returned to the rule of the Tang Dynasty. During this period, auspicious birds and beasts were the main decorative patterns, and grass patterns and various geometric patterns were the main side decorations. Its size is suitable for the structure of algae wells.

The color of the caisson pattern in Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes is the product of craftsmen and time masters in the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, the pattern of algae wells in Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes is very unique. In modern design and application, we can't completely copy the original color of this color, but should look for inspiration from the contrast color of craftsmen in the Tang Dynasty.