Believe in our ancestors’ aesthetic taste, it won’t be wrong!

"I stepped into the Yongle Palace, and my mind was rippling among the murals." - This poem expresses that after the poet stepped into the Yongle Palace, he was deeply attracted by the exquisite murals, and his mind seemed to be rippling in the ocean of art.
[Clapping] The murals of Yongle Palace are masterpieces of ancient Chinese murals. Located in Ruicheng, Shanxi Province, the Yongle Palace (also known as the Great Chunyang Wanshou Palace) has the highest artistic value in terms of its exquisite large-scale murals. It is not only an important masterpiece in the history of Chinese painting, but also a rare masterpiece in the history of world painting. The murals in Yongle Palace are a treasure of ancient Chinese painting art.
[Clapping] The most famous mural, "Zhao Yuan Tu", was created by Ma Qi, the son of Ma Junxiang in the Yuan Dynasty, and others. The "Chao Yuan Tu" mural in the Sanqing Hall was painted by Ma Junxiang and others in the third year of Taiding (1325). It depicts the story of the gods paying homage to Yuanshi Tianzun. It is centered on the eight main statues of emperors and empresses, surrounded by 286 statues of golden boys, jade girls, stars, and strong men. The scene is broad and magnificent. The lines in the painting are round, powerful, bold and free, with a solid brushstroke and tight joints. The clothes, utensils and clouds of various textures are drawn without any sluggishness. The brushstrokes are done in one go, and there is no trace of starting or ending when the brush is hidden or turned. It shows the high achievement of traditional pure drawing art. It has become one of the must-copy models for learning traditional Chinese figure painting.
[Clapping] Travel Tips
1. Be sure to hire a guide, it is really worth it, otherwise you won’t understand anything. The guide ticket is also purchased at the entrance for 80 yuan.
2. You are not allowed to take photos of the murals. In addition to the murals, the caisson in the Sanqing Hall is also very beautiful, so don't miss it.

Post by IngridLarsen | Mar 5, 2025