The Tang Dynasty represents the peak of the artistic development of the Mogao Caves, with more than 200 caves excavated during the 289 years of its history. Particularly notable is the rich artistic achievements and diverse cultural expressions in the murals, especially in the creation of landscape imagery. Firstly, in terms of quantity, the widespread use of large-scale jingbian (Buddhist iconographic transformation) murals significantly increased the proportion of landscape images in the overall wall paintings. Secondly, in terms of technique, the artistic skills of the Tang dynasty Dunhuang painters had reached a mature stage, with the depiction of trees and mountains becoming more vivid and realistic. These remaining images and artistic outcomes possess high representational and historical value. This study focuses on the landscape images in Tang dynasty murals at the Mogao Caves, systematically categorizing, organizing, and researching the core elements of these landscapes to explore the dual significance of landscape images in terms of form and function.
The structure of this thesis consists of seven chapters. The first chapter is the introduction, which explains the foundational issues of the research, including the classification of the Tang dynasty artistic period, the definition of landscape images, and the division of their constituent elements, clarifying the research objects and significance. It also organizes existing literature and image materials on the landscape images in the Mogao Caves murals, discussing their origins and authenticity, and elaborating on the research methods and approach adopted in this study. The second chapter focuses on discussing the selection of research objects, their utilization methods, and the major problems that may be encountered in the study of landscape images.Chapters three to six, the core sections of this paper, delve into four major elements of Tang dynasty landscape imagery: trees, mountains, clouds and water, and architecture. Through the investigation and statistical analysis of real images, combined with typological research, each type of landscape element is classified chronologically, and its modeling characteristics, content structure, and main drawing methods are analyzed. Comparisons are made with contemporary landscapes from Central China and the Western Regions to provide new materials and perspectives for the study of early Chinese landscape painting history. By conducting a longitudinal comparison of landscape images from the four historical periods of the Tang dynasty, this study reveals the evolving characteristics of Tang dynasty mural landscapes, with a focus on social customs, artistic aesthetics, religious art, and ethnic features. Chapter seven focuseson the lines, colors, and composition of the landscape images in Tang - Dynasty Dunhuang murals. It explores the expressive forms of the lines in Tang - Dynasty Dunhuang murals, as well as how colors are utilized and what composition techniques are adopted within the limited space, and analyzes their innovations and explorations in spatial construction.
Although there are significant differences between the landscape images in Dunhuang murals and those in Central China in terms of technical standards, creative functions, and audience, the lack of sufficient physical evidence for early Tang dynasty landscape paintings in Central China makes this study an important supplement, providing essential materials for understanding the development of Tang dynasty landscape art. Additionally, the landscape images examined in this study not only involve the basic artistic concepts of Central Chinese landscape painting, but also incorporate themes and techniques from Indian, Nepalese, and Central Asian painting, reflecting the cultural exchanges and integration of the Tang dynasty. From the perspective of cross-cultural exchange, this paper offers new academic insights into Silk Road culture and Sino-Western cultural exchanges, providing significant implications for cultural research in the contemporary era.