Professor Wang Xiaoyang, Doctoral Supervisor at Macau City University, Decrypts Cultural Ciphers of Silk Road Tomb Murals

On the morning of June 7, 2025, Professor Wang Xiaoyang—doctoral advisor at Macau City University—graced Tianyi Pavilion Academy's National Studies Center. Presenting "Tomb Murals Along China's Silk Road," he delivered an enthralling lecture to both in-person and online audiences.

Professor Wang meticulously elucidated the UNESCO World Heritage project "Silk Roads: The Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor." Spanning 8,700 kilometers with 33 heritage sites—22 within China, all clustering mural-adorned tombs—the professor delineated three core pictorial systems: Dual Capitals (Chang'an and Luoyang), Hexi Corridor, and Western Regions, unraveling each region's distinct iconographic characteristics.

Notably, Professor Wang emphasized that Silk Road tomb murals encapsulate China's paramount cultural achievements. He showcased exquisite mural artifacts including Turpan's Eastern Jin Dynasty paper painting, musical imagery from Jiayuguan, and Gaochang's earliest paper-cut artwork. Furthermore, he unveiled Zhejiang's artistic treasures: the celestial Apsaras mural from Tomb M27 (Xiaoheng Mountain, Southern Dynasty), twelve zodiac deities in Lin'an, and Lin'an's peony tree motif.

Concluding his presentation, Professor Wang highlighted the geographical overlap between tomb mural distribution and ancient civilizations, revealing their role as subterranean vessels of cultural transmission. Engaging the audience in profound discourse regarding mural artistry and cultural significance, he proclaimed: "These murals are not merely artistic masterpieces but bridges connecting past and present, allowing us to resonate with cultural heritage's profound allure and eternal value."

Symbolically coinciding with the inaugural day of China's National College Entrance Examinations, this June 7th lecture was specially held in the scholarly "Zhuangyuan Hall," drawing a febrile atmosphere with thousands participating online.