{"id":656,"date":"2026-08-26T03:38:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-26T03:38:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ynatcn.com\/?page_id=656"},"modified":"2026-08-26T03:38:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T03:38:14","slug":"baisha-murals","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.ynatcn.com\/?page_id=656","title":{"rendered":"Baisha Murals"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"paragraph\" dir=\"auto\">The <strong>Baisha Murals<\/strong> (\u767d\u6c99\u58c1\u753b) are one of China&#8217;s most remarkable artistic treasures, located in Baisha Village, about 8\u201310 km north of Lijiang Old Town in Yunnan Province. They represent a rare fusion of multiple religions, ethnic cultures, and painting traditions.<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 class=\"\">Historical Background<\/h3>\n<div class=\"paragraph\" dir=\"auto\">Baisha was the earliest settlement of the Naxi people in the Lijiang basin and the birthplace of the powerful Mu Clan (\u6728\u6c0f\u571f\u53f8), who ruled the region for centuries.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pua-ref-renderer pua-ref-renderer--2\" data-v-667bc589=\"\" data-v-d664c8c3=\"\"><\/div>\n<p>The murals were created during a period of great openness in Naxi society, spanning over <strong>300 years from the early Ming Dynasty to the early Qing Dynasty<\/strong> (roughly 1385\u20131619 AD).<\/p>\n<div class=\"pua-ref-renderer pua-ref-renderer--2\" data-v-667bc589=\"\" data-v-d664c8c3=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"paragraph\" dir=\"auto\">During the Ming Dynasty, the Mu family reached its zenith of power and prosperity. To showcase their wealth and cultural sophistication, they built magnificent temples and palaces in Baisha and invited painters from multiple ethnic groups to decorate the walls.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pua-ref-renderer pua-ref-renderer--2\" data-v-667bc589=\"\" data-v-d664c8c3=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>What Makes Them Unique<\/h3>\n<div class=\"paragraph\" dir=\"auto\"><strong>1. Religious Syncretism<\/strong> The Baisha Murals are extraordinary because they depict figures from <strong>Han Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism (Lamaism), Taoism, and Naxi Dongba shamanism<\/strong> all within the same painting or even the same temple.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pua-ref-renderer pua-ref-renderer--2\" data-v-667bc589=\"\" data-v-d664c8c3=\"\"><\/div>\n<p>This &#8220;harmonious coexistence of multiple religions&#8221; (\u4f17\u6559\u5408\u4e00) reflects the inclusive and open spirit of Naxi culture during that era.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pua-ref-renderer pua-ref-renderer--2\" data-v-667bc589=\"\" data-v-d664c8c3=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"paragraph\" dir=\"auto\"><strong>2. Multi-Ethnic Artistic Fusion<\/strong> The murals blend the painting styles of the <strong>Han, Tibetan, Naxi, and Bai<\/strong> peoples into a unique visual language:<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<div class=\"paragraph\" dir=\"auto\"><strong>Tibetan influence<\/strong>: bold colors, strong contrasts (especially red and green), and thangka-style compositions<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"paragraph\" dir=\"auto\"><strong>Han Chinese influence<\/strong>: delicate line work (iron-wire\u63cf, high-antique\u6e38\u4e1d\u63cf), elegant brushwork, and literati painting techniques for landscapes and flowers<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"paragraph\" dir=\"auto\"><strong>Naxi\/Dongba influence<\/strong>: rustic charm, strong color contrasts, and lifelike expressions<\/p>\n<div class=\"pua-ref-renderer pua-ref-renderer--2\" data-v-667bc589=\"\" data-v-d664c8c3=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"paragraph\" dir=\"auto\"><strong>3. Secular Life in Religious Art<\/strong> Unlike the solemn, detached figures typical of many religious murals, the Baisha paintings are remarkably &#8220;down-to-earth.&#8221; Scenes of <strong>hunting, fishing, weaving, blacksmithing, woodcutting, and dancing<\/strong> appear alongside Buddhas and bodhisattvas.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pua-ref-renderer pua-ref-renderer--2\" data-v-667bc589=\"\" data-v-d664c8c3=\"\"><\/div>\n<p>You can also find vivid depictions of galloping horses, blooming lotus flowers, forests, farmland, birds, and insects\u2014showing the painters&#8217; keen observation of nature and everyday life.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pua-ref-renderer pua-ref-renderer--2\" data-v-667bc589=\"\" data-v-d664c8c3=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Key Sites<\/h3>\n<div class=\"paragraph\" dir=\"auto\">The surviving murals are preserved in several historic buildings in Baisha:<\/div>\n<div class=\"table markdown-table\" data-v-01af594f=\"\" data-v-d0d59810=\"\">\n<div class=\"sticky-release\" data-v-13fde6a9=\"\" data-v-01af594f=\"\">\n<div class=\"sticky-release-rail\" data-v-13fde6a9=\"\">\n<div class=\"sticky-release-header\" data-v-13fde6a9=\"\">\n<header class=\"table-actions\" data-v-01af594f=\"\">\n<div class=\"table-actions-content\" data-v-01af594f=\"\">\n<div class=\"icon-button\" data-v-1005b780=\"\" data-v-868ea423=\"\">\n<div class=\"kimi-tooltip tooltip-bottom icon-button-tooltip bottom\" data-v-5f9e9bf6=\"\" data-v-1005b780=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"icon-button table-actions-icon\" data-v-1005b780=\"\" data-v-01af594f=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"table-container\" data-v-01af594f=\"\">\n<table data-v-01af594f=\"\" data-extentions-extra-tablecapture-id=\"49157\">\n<thead data-v-01af594f=\"\">\n<tr data-v-01af594f=\"\">\n<th align=\"left\" data-v-01af594f=\"\">Site<\/th>\n<th align=\"left\" data-v-01af594f=\"\">Notable Features<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody data-v-01af594f=\"\">\n<tr data-v-01af594f=\"\">\n<td align=\"left\" data-v-01af594f=\"\"><strong data-v-01af594f=\"\">Dabaoji Palace (\u5927\u5b9d\u79ef\u5bab)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td align=\"left\" data-v-01af594f=\"\">Built in 1582, houses the largest collection\u2014558 murals including the famous <em data-v-01af594f=\"\">&#8220;The Buddha Giving Teachings&#8221;<\/em> (\u5982\u6765\u8bb2\u7ecf\u56fe), featuring over 100 figures.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pua-ref-renderer pua-ref-renderer--2\" data-v-667bc589=\"\" data-v-d664c8c3=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-v-01af594f=\"\">\n<td align=\"left\" data-v-01af594f=\"\"><strong data-v-01af594f=\"\">Liuli Temple \/ Glazed Tile Hall (\u7409\u7483\u6bbf)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td align=\"left\" data-v-01af594f=\"\">Built in 1417 during the Yongle era, with murals spanning from Ming to late Qing.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pua-ref-renderer pua-ref-renderer--2\" data-v-667bc589=\"\" data-v-d664c8c3=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-v-01af594f=\"\">\n<td align=\"left\" data-v-01af594f=\"\"><strong data-v-01af594f=\"\">Dading Pavilion (\u5927\u5b9a\u9601)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td align=\"left\" data-v-01af594f=\"\">Contains Tibetan Buddhist imagery like Chakrasamvara and Guhyasamaja, alongside Han-style paintings of the Four Great Bodhisattvas.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pua-ref-renderer pua-ref-renderer--2\" data-v-667bc589=\"\" data-v-d664c8c3=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-v-01af594f=\"\">\n<td align=\"left\" data-v-01af594f=\"\"><strong data-v-01af594f=\"\">Dajue Palace (\u5927\u89c9\u5bab)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td align=\"left\" data-v-01af594f=\"\">Features arhat paintings with flowing &#8220;Wu Dai Dang Feng&#8221; (\u5434\u5e26\u5f53\u98ce) brushwork in purely Han Chinese style.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pua-ref-renderer pua-ref-renderer--2\" data-v-667bc589=\"\" data-v-d664c8c3=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>The Artists<\/h3>\n<div class=\"paragraph\" dir=\"auto\">The murals were not the work of a single hand. The Mu chieftain Mu Wang commissioned a team led by the Han painter <strong>Ma Xiaoxian (\u9a6c\u5578\u4ed9)<\/strong>, joined by Tibetan, Bai, and Naxi painters, as well as Dongba shamans and Taoist disciples.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pua-ref-renderer pua-ref-renderer--2\" data-v-667bc589=\"\" data-v-d664c8c3=\"\"><\/div>\n<p>This collaborative, cross-cultural effort is precisely what gives the murals their unmatched richness.<\/p><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Legacy and Preservation<\/h3>\n<div class=\"paragraph\" dir=\"auto\">Originally, over <strong>200 murals<\/strong> adorned 15 temples across the region. Today, only about <strong>55 pieces<\/strong> survive, covering roughly 140 square meters, preserved in just four sites.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pua-ref-renderer pua-ref-renderer--2\" data-v-667bc589=\"\" data-v-d664c8c3=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"paragraph\" dir=\"auto\">In <strong>1996<\/strong>, Dabaoji Palace and Liuli Temple were designated as <strong>National Key Cultural Relic Protection Units<\/strong> (\u5168\u56fd\u91cd\u70b9\u6587\u7269\u4fdd\u62a4\u5355\u4f4d).<\/p>\n<div class=\"pua-ref-renderer pua-ref-renderer--2\" data-v-667bc589=\"\" data-v-d664c8c3=\"\"><\/div>\n<p>The murals are also an integral part of the <strong>Lijiang World Cultural Heritage<\/strong> designation.<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Visiting Information<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<div class=\"paragraph\" dir=\"auto\"><strong>Location<\/strong>: Baisha Ancient Town, ~8\u201310 km north of Lijiang Old Town<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"paragraph\" dir=\"auto\"><strong>Opening Hours<\/strong>: 8:00\u201317:30<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"paragraph\" dir=\"auto\"><strong>Entrance Fee<\/strong>: ~CNY 20\u201330<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"paragraph\" dir=\"auto\"><strong>How to get there<\/strong>: Bus No. 6 to Baisha Intersection, then walk; or taxi (~CNY 40 round trip)<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"paragraph\" dir=\"auto\"><strong>Photography<\/strong>: Flash photography is strictly prohibited to protect the ancient mineral pigments<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"paragraph\" dir=\"auto\"><strong>Suggested visit<\/strong>: 1\u20132 hours, combined with exploring the quiet, authentic streets of Baisha Old Town<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<div class=\"paragraph\" dir=\"auto\">In essence, the Baisha Murals are far more than religious art\u2014they are a <strong>visual testament to centuries of peaceful cultural exchange<\/strong> along the Tea Horse Road, where Han, Tibetan, and Naxi worlds met and created something entirely new.<acronym class=\"eusoft-eudic-chrome-extension-translate-content\"><br \/>\n<acronym class=\"eusoft-eudic-chrome-extension-translate-topbottom-space\"><\/acronym><acronym class=\"eusoft-eudic-chrome-extension-translate-topbottom-space\"><\/acronym><\/acronym><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Baisha Murals (\u767d\u6c99\u58c1\u753b) are one of China&#8217;s most remarkable artistic treasures, located in Baisha Village, about 8\u201310 km north of Lijiang Old Town in Yunnan Province. They represent a rare fusion of multiple religions, ethnic cultures, and painting traditions. Historical Background Baisha was the earliest settlement of the Naxi people in the Lijiang basin &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ynatcn.com\/?page_id=656\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Baisha Murals<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":612,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ynatcn.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/656"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ynatcn.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ynatcn.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ynatcn.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ynatcn.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=656"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.ynatcn.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/656\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":657,"href":"http:\/\/www.ynatcn.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/656\/revisions\/657"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ynatcn.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/612"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ynatcn.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}