15-Frescoes-壁画

15.Chinese frescoes

Chinese frescoes date back to the prehistoric period some 10,000 years ago. People carved images of human activities and natural views on rocks. Excavated from tombs built 2,200 years ago, the bi hua remains clear, vivid, and colorful. Legend has it that an ancient painter drew a dragon on the wall and when he added eyes to the drawing the image turned into a real dragon. With the introduction of Buddhism to China, bi hua on the subject of religion rapidly developed. The bi hua, or frescoes, in the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes are the most famous ones in China. They are a collection of masterpieces of numerous painters in the past 1,000 years. They tell historical tales and religious stories.

中国壁画最早可追溯到距今一万年前的史前时期。人们在岩壁上刻画下人类活动与自然景物。2200 多年前，中国古墓出土的壁画，线条流畅、色彩艳丽、形象生动。传说古代有位画家在墙壁上画的龙十分神似，待画上眼睛之后竟然变成真龙。后来佛教传入中国，宗教壁画迅速发展。中国最出名的壁画群在敦煌莫高窟。它是无数画匠千余年来的杰作，集中描绘了宗 教、历史、故事与传说。