唐章怀太子墓“东客使图”新论

A New Interpretation of the Eastern Section of the Ambassador Scene in the Murals of the Prince Zhanghuai Tomb of the Tang Dynasty

学者一般认为唐章怀太子墓墓道所绘“东客使图”中由右向左第三位使者为东罗马人,个别学者认为是粟特人。但从该墓墓道壁画的布局及方位秩序、人物面貌特征看,此人应来自大唐东部,再结合人物发式、叉手礼等因素,可推测其为唐代契丹人。

This paper presents a new interpretation of the ambassador scene that was portraited in the mural paintings on both sides of the entry slop of the Prince Zhanghuai tomb.It is generally believed that the third ambassador counting from right to left in the eastern section of the ambassador scene might have been an ambassador from Eastern Roman empire.Some other scholars have argued that the ambassador was a Sogdian.However,the author suggests that the figure was more likely from the eastern neighboring states of the Tang empire,based on the layout of the murals in the entry slop,the standing order and orientations of the ambassadors,and their facial features.Judging from the hair style and the‘chashou’(cupping hands)ritual,the author further proposes that the ambassador should be a Khitan.