Xinjiang protects and restores murals at Beiting Gaochang Uighur Buddhist Temple ruins

On October 14, in Jimsar, Xinjiang, Liu Ruiqiang, a conservator involved in the mural restoration project at the North Court Gaochang Uighur Buddhist Temple site, shared insights about the complexities of the work. “The murals are quite fragile, with paint layers that tend to crumble easily. During the restoration, we must carefully monitor and control factors such as temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide levels, lighting, and wind direction. Additionally, we employ different tools suited to various areas of the murals to ensure they ‘rejuvenate’ after restoration,” Liu explained.

Recently completed, the project took over five months to address issues like blistering, hollow spots, and efflorescence in the murals.

The site, located in Jimsar County, Xinjiang, is a nationally recognized important cultural heritage site with a history spanning over a thousand years. Richly detailed, the murals feature an array of subjects, including images of thousands of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, offering monks, protectors, and narratives from Buddhist scriptures. Notably, the mural known as the “Royal Outing” is considered a pinnacle of Uighur Buddhist artistic expression.

Liu detailed the restoration process: “We focused on all the auxiliary halls and niches within the site. The first step involved implementing temporary protective measures and documenting the condition of the murals. Following that, we carried out surface cleaning and reinforced areas suffering from blistering and weathering, as well as repaired any peeling or cracking.”

Archaeological researchers have emphasized the significance of the site, which was built during the Gaochang Uighur period on the northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains. It offers invaluable physical evidence for studying the religious and cultural aspects of ancient Xinjiang, particularly regarding the North Court region, highlighting its immense artistic value.

Yang Chuanyu, a curator at the North Court Studies Institute, remarked, “This restoration aims to address the various challenges currently facing the murals, creating a safer and more stable environment for their preservation.”