The Expressive Types of Lines, Spatial Construction, and Emotional Expression in The Murals of Yongle Palace

Abstract

As the pinnacle of Yuan Dynasty temple murals, the Yongle Palace murals hold significant importance in the development of Chinese traditional painting, bridging the past and the future through their line art. Lines are not only the most fundamental modeling tool in the Yongle Palace murals but also play a central role in figure portrayal, spatial construction, and emotional expression. This paper focuses on the "Chaoyuan Tu" (Palace Ceremony of the Immortals) mural in the Sanqing Hall of Yongle Palace, analyzing its line expression types, stylized spatial construction methods, and the emotions and calligraphic qualities conveyed by the lines. Through a review of line types such as iron-wire drawing and willow-leaf drawing, and considering the organization of line density, length, and straightness/curvature, this paper explores how the Yongle Palace murals construct an orderly and rhythmic visual structure in planar space. Furthermore, starting from the traditional painting concept of "capturing the spirit through form," it elucidates the aesthetic value of lines in shaping divine images and conveying spiritual atmosphere. This paper argues that the line art of the Yongle Palace murals not only reflects the high maturity of the traditional Chinese line drawing system but also provides an important example for understanding the spatial cognitive logic of traditional Chinese painting, offering important insights for contemporary Chinese painting creation.