The Artistic Heritage of the Khitan: A Study of Composition and Characteristics of Representation

Abstract

Erdenetsog Ts, Selenge T, Ankhbayar N and Bulgantuya D

In the 10th to 11th centuries, the Khitan (also known as the Liao Dynasty) was established just before the formation of the Mongol Empire, known as "Liao Shi" and "Qidan Guozhi." The Mongol-speaking people emerged on the historical stage and existed for about 200 years.

Due to their extensive cultural interactions with China, Korea, and Central Asian countries, the Khitan developed high-level artistic achievements, creating innovative architectural complexes, monuments, paintings, and first created the type of relief printing.

Khitan artists reflected the artistic achievements of neighboring countries while integrating them with the characteristics of traditional art representation, resulting in unique and innovative works that showcased their distinctive identity.

When observing the artistic features of Khitan painting, although there were influences from common painting styles widespread in Central Asian countries, Buddhist religious art, and Uyghur and Chinese painting, the traditional representations of nomadic peoples predominantly developed.

The characteristic of the art and decorative works of the Khitan Empire formed the fundamental basis for the emergence and establishment of "traditional Mongolian painting" in the early 20th century.