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precious mural paintings, like this one in Nan (South) Temple, in north China’s Shanxi province are largely ignored and poorly preserved. [Jiang Yan/Shanghai Daily]
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In northern China’s Shanxi province, an area rich in cultural relics, a precious part of human history and civilization is fading away. A large number of ancient temples and the refined murals inside have been left deserted; some broken, some largely eroded.
When it comes to China’s mural paintings, many would immediately think of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes in Gansu province. From AD 366 and continuing for some 1,000 years, there are 492 grottoes with some 45,000 square meters of murals still in existence there. They represent the culmination of Chinese painting and carving.
However, in contrast to the mural paintings in Dunhuang, those scattered around the old temples in Shanxi are largely ignored and endangered.
Tang Dahua, a lover of ancient Chinese architecture, is appealing for the protection of these “treasures of the nation.”
“Based on a survey, there are nearly 25,000 ancient buildings in Shanxi province, and about 5 percent of them have mural paintings,” Tang says. “Most of the mural paintings were delicately painted during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties or even earlier.”
But the murals have eroded over time, and the broken walls and dilapidated buildings put them in greater danger.
“Just imagine, if these ancient buildings collapsed, how could these mural paintings survive?” Tang asks. ”After a rainy season, they would totally disappear.”
Tang says he has witnessed the collapse of four ancient temples, along with their mural paintings. “I felt so shocked and upset. I only know that they are gone forever.”
In an effort to save the remaining Shanxi murals, Tang spread what he had seen on his blog. Soon he received a response from the local government, promising that a special renovation project for the ancient paintings and buildings would start after April.
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