Spectral Analysis of the Techniques and Materials Used to Make Murals
——a Case Study of the Murals in Huapen Guandi Temple in Yanqing District, Beijing
JIN Cui1, 4, GUO Hong1*, YU Hai-kuan2, LI Bo3, YANG Jian-du3, ZHANG Yao1
1. Academy of History of Science Technology and Cultural Heritage, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
2. Beijing Yanqing District Museum (Beijing Yanqing District Cultural Relics Mangement Institute), Beijing 102100, China
3. Beijing Guowenyan Conservation and Development of Cultural Heritage Co., Ltd., Beijing 100029, China
4. Huai’an Institute of Cultural Relics Protection and Archaeology, Huai’an 223001, China
Abstract Spectroscopy is the use of light on the interaction of substances, providing the microstructure of substances and different chemical analysis methods to achieve the quantitative and qualitative substances. A large number of spectral analysis techniques are used in the process of making murals. In this study, taking Huapen Guandi Temple of Yanqing in Beijing as an example, the techniques and materials formaking murals are analyzed by spectral analysis and other techniques. Huapen Guandi Temple is located in Huapen village, Yanqing District, Beijing. It was built in the fourth year of the Yongzheng reign (1726) of the Qing dynasty. Many spectral analysis techniques are used in the process analysis of mural making. This study takes Beijing Yanqing Huapen Guandi Temple as an example to analyze the mural making process and materials. Using a range of spectroscopic techniques, including X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and laser particle size analyzer, the study found that the mural of Guandi Temple is supported by an adobe wall. The main components of the ground layer are quartz, calcite and albite, and the main components of the white powder layer are gypsum. The red pigments in the pigment layer are iron red, lead and cinnabar. Blue is azurite, yellow is chrome yellow, black is carbon black, white is gypsum, green is Paris green, green earth and chrome green. The Binder of gold coating with pitch powder is cooked tung oil and rosin resin, and the gold foil is red gold with a gold content of 86.1%.The Raman spectrum can not only distinguish the pigment of the fresco but also prove it through the research of the pigment history and enrich the historical information of the fresco. It is of great significance to study and protect the ancient frescoes by combining the spectral analysis data of cultural relics with the literature data and fully excavating the information behind the cultural relics. Through the difference in the making technology of the wall of the same wall in Guandi Temple, this paper shows that the material and the craft of the mural are affected by the position. It is expected that the researchers will find the typical cases of murals by the regulations by studying the differences of murals making materials and techniques and summarizing the regulations of murals making in past dynasties.
Key words：Mural production technology and materials; Spectral analysis; Mural of Huapen Guandi Temple
Corresponding Authors:
GUO Hong
E-mail: B1831678@ustb.edu.cn
Cite this article:
JIN Cui,GUO Hong,YU Hai-kuan, et al. Spectral Analysis of the Techniques and Materials Used to Make Murals
——a Case Study of the Murals in Huapen Guandi Temple in Yanqing District, Beijing[J]. SPECTROSCOPY AND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS, 2023, 43(04): 1147-1154.
[1] TU Bing-yi(屠秉懿). The Annals of Yanqing Prefecture, Chahar(察哈尔延庆州志). Taipei: Cheng Wen Publishing House(台北：成文出版社)，1968.
[2] Beijing Municipal Bureau of Cultural Heritage Books and Materials Center(北京市文物局图书资料中心). Investigation and Research on Ancient Temple Murals in Yanqing, Beijing(北京延庆古代寺观壁画调查与研究). Beijing: Yanshan Press(北京: 燕山出版社)，2012.
[3] BIAN Jing-yi(边精一). Painting of Ancient Chinese Architecture(中国古建筑油漆彩画). Beijing: China Building Materials Industry Press(北京：中国建材工业出版社)，2007.
[4] LI Zui-xiong(李最雄). Dunhuang Research(敦煌研究)，2002 ，(4)：11.
[5] FitzHugh E W. Artists’ Pigments A Handbook of Their History and Characteristics. National Gallery of Art, Archetype, 2012.
[6] CHANG Bei（长 北）. Analysis of the Record of Painting Decoration（髹饰录析解）. Nanjing：Jiangsu Phoenix Fine Arts Publishing House（南京：江苏凤凰美术出版社），2017.
[7] YANG Lu, HUANG Jian-hua, SHEN Mao-sheng, et al(杨 璐，黄建华，申茂盛，等). Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry(分析化学)，2019，47(5)：695.
[8] Mills J S. Studies in Conservation, 1966, 11(2): 92.
[9] Schilling M R, Heginbotham A, van Keulen H, et al. Studies in Conservation, 2016, 61(sup3): 3.
[10] LI Jie(李 诫). Yingzao Fashi(营造法式). Beijing: People’s Publishing House(北京：人民出版社)，2011.
