Lately, Shaanxi archeologists discovered a large fresco of the Qing Dynasty (1616AD-1911AD) in the remote Qinling Mountains. On two walls near thirty square meters in area are painted twenty-four classic stories in the famous Chinese novel "Romance of Three Kingdoms," depicting lifelike characters with exquisite strokes and delicate arrangement.

The fresco is located at the Tiantai Temple on top of a mountain at Honghuapu Town, Feng County, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province. The temple was first built in Wanli period (1573-1620) of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Every June in the lunar year, a temple fair will be held on the mountain with flocks of pilgrims and tourists hanging around.

The temple's architectural style resembles that of a four-side enclosed courtyard, with a main hall in the middle and leaning halls on both sides. The left and right sides of walls of the main hall are painted 24 classic tales from the "Romance of Three Kingdoms," including "Three Heroes Swear Brotherhood in the Peach Garden" and "Guan Yu Lifts His Saber to Release Cao Cao".

On the fresco, drapes on the characters' clothes as well as light and shade of trees were clear in contrast. Many calligraphic works are also found on the fresco.

According to scientific research, the fresco might be completed during the Daoguang period (1821-1850) of the Qing Dynasty (1616-1911).

Telling from its painting style, the fresco was composed by folk artisans. Such well-preserved frescos of the Qing Dynasty are rarely seen nowadays. This fresco provides precious practical material for the studies of ancient folk painting skills and styles.
 
(Chinanews.cn November 1, 2005)