On Tuesday a research group of the Cultural Relics Research and Protection Institute of Tibet discovered a mural while conducting a survey in Chalong Village, Dingqen County, eastern Tibet's Chamdo Prefecture.

File photo taken on Aug. 7, 2002 shows a mural in the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, capital of Tibet.

The mural was found in a scripture hall in a local villager's residence which dates back about one hundred years. The mural covers about 50 sq. m., and depicts gods and biographical stories of Bonism - the oldest spiritual tradition of Tibet.

The painting is quite exquisite and well preserved. Its style is that of the Meilin from the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912 AD). In the scripture hall there is also a cabinet painted with human images on its three sides. The patterns painted are of antique beauty and have been well preserved. Paintings on the cabinet and in the mural together form a perfect pair.

This is the first time an ancient mural has been discovered in a local residence.

Deputy Director of the institute Hejing said the mural, a heritage of the Meilin Sect of Bonism, was perfect for the study of the Thangka (a traditional Tibetan painting or embroidery work) culture.

According to him, the mural integrates the Buddhist culture of the U-Tsang area (the area now covered by Lhasa, Xigaze and Shanan) and the Bonist culture in Khampa area (the border area of the present Sichuan, Yunnan and Tibet), and a witness to the exchange among various cultures on the horse-and-tea route.

Source: Xinhua