Mural of Guest Envoys

This is a mural in the tomb of Prince Li Xian of Tang Dynasty. In the year 684, Li Xian was forced to commit suicide by Empress Wu Zetian; in the year 706 when Tang Zhongzong restored his throne, he reset Li’s tomb as a Yong Wang (a title for prince) in Qianling. In Tang Dynasty, there were defined burial system regulations; tombs, funerary and even murals shall be in match with the identity and class of the person passed away, so this mural of Guest Envoys is a rare treasure.
This mural depicts the scene of people grieving and lamenting Li Xian’s death when he was buried. The official of Hong Lu Si received the foreign envoys coming to pay condolence. In the mural, the guiding persons in the lead may be the chief official and junior official of Hong Lu Si. They wore robes of early Tang Dynasty. In order to present the three people's different appearances and manners, the artist presented sides of two persons and the other person’s back. Other three persons are foreign envoys; they bend their bodies and make an obeisance by cupping one hand in the other before chest, reverent and respectful. According to their clothing and appearance, scholars generally think that they are messenger from East Rome, envoy of Xinluo country and the chief of northeast minority. The mural accurately presents peoples’ different traits from different races, which reflects the painter’s superb artistry and indicates that there were frequent foreign exchanges at that time.