Mineral Pigments and Colors of the Mogao Grottoes Murals

The murals in Mogao Grottoes have existed for more than one thousand years, yet their colors remain still bright and gorgeous. Geologically, the secret behind this magic lies in the fact that most of the pigments used in these murals are natural minerals. For example, cinnabar, vermilion and terra rossa provide the red hues, while gypsum, talc  kaolin, and calcite are often selections for white, lapis lazuli verdigris and azurite are among selections for blue, patina and malachite can be used to create green, orpiment is one of the raw materials of yellow, and carbon black and iron black provide the black hues. These natural minerals possess unique characteristics such as stable performance and high covering power. Despite the limited range of available colors, a multitude of vibrant hues have been achieved through color combination and harmony, combined with the exceptional painting prowess of skilled craftsmen. This has resulted in the Mogao Grottoes' murals retaining their vividness for several millennia.

The Mogao Grottoes are not only a world-famous art treasure, but also a museum of abundant pigments. They save important information on the history of pigment chemistry in ancient China, showcasing that China was one of the earliest countries to use natural minerals as pigments in painting. This evidence also illustrates that China was the global leader in pigment preparation at the time.