Experts on CGTN's latest virtual exhibition: Tang aesthetics across time and technology

Presented under CGTN's Art Series project, CGTN's latest multimedia immersive and interactive virtual exhibition "Tang Architecture: Building Timeless Glory," has captivated users not only with its visual grandeur, but also through the powerful historical dialogue it sparks between civilizations.

It has triggered profound reflections among experts and scholars from different countries, highlighting the enduring legacy of Tang architecture and its influence.

Architecture is not only solidified history, but also a monumental embodiment of civilizational spirit.

Professor Zhang Yiwu of Peking University praised the innovative value of "Tang Architecture: Building Timeless Glory," noting that it transforms the profound achievements of archaeology, culture and architectural studies into a tangible, immersive and vivid cultural experience through new methodologies, technologies and creative approaches.

Zhang emphasized that this work opens an important pathway for presenting the identity of Chinese civilization globally.

In the feature program of this project, Chinese heritage conservation expert and renowned influencer Wang Yongxian, also known as "Grandpa Dougong," unveiled the thousand-year-old secrets of dougong – the soul of traditional Chinese timber architecture.

Through the legendary story of how Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyin discovered the Foguang Temple in Shanxi Province, Wang highlighted the profound influence of Chinese wooden architecture as the origin of East Asian architectural tradition.

Professor Geng Shuo of the Central Academy of Fine Arts explored the political and environmental symbolism behind the layout of Daming Palace from an archaeological perspective. From the stately front court modeled on Zhou rituals to the rear garden's "One Lake, Three Mountains" concept reflecting Taoist cosmology, the philosophical depth of palace design from a millennium ago vividly comes to life.

Dutch architect Martijn de Geus lauded the Tang-dynasty's city planning system, noting that its modular, rectangular layout resembled a Go board. It became a model for East Asian urban planning, achieving a harmonious balance between order and diversity, and embodying the brilliance of ancient Chinese governance. Over a thousand years ago, Japan adopted this wisdom when building Heijo Palace (Nara) and Heian Palace (Kyoto), modeled after Chang'an, continuing this legacy across the sea.

Professor Nobuo Aoki, recipient of the Chinese Government Friendship Award and a leading expert in the preservation of architectural heritage in China and Japan, praised the Tang Dynasty (618-907) as a period of extraordinary economic and cultural prosperity. He noted that its palaces, halls, and temples were grand and elegant, rich in stylistic diversity, and undoubtedly represented a pinnacle of artistic achievement.

Reviving Tang mastery through digital power: 1,000-year legacy now within reach

"Tang Architecture: Building Timeless Glory" adheres to the vision of using digital technology to empower cultural transmission and foster the shared appreciation of aesthetics.

Through its online exhibition and offline events, it has successfully blurred the boundaries between the virtual and the physical, precisely recreating the grandeur and spirit of the Tang-dynasty architecture.

The project offers both domestic and international audiences an immersive experience that invites deep exploration of ancient Chinese architectural mastery.

Wu Shengrong, director of the China Pavilion at 2025 Expo Osaka, emphasized the innovative significance of the project, saying that "This is not only an innovation in communication methods, but also a breakthrough in the way civilizations engage in dialogue. It brings one of the most iconic expressions of Chinese cultural artistry onto the global stage."

Tao Cheng, secretary-general of the China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation, highlighted its exemplary value at the project's production and communication symposium.

"This digital exhibition is a forward-looking and exemplary case of using modern technology to deeply explore and revitalize cultural heritage," Tao said.

Leng Song, a research fellow at the Institute of Journalism and Communication, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, hailed "Tang Architecture: Building Timeless Glory" as "a pioneering model of media convergence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and digital integration."

He noted that "it advances the dissemination of public archaeology and the expanded concept of museums in the media sphere, and stands as a successful case in the international communication of Eastern aesthetics."

Architectural codes across borders: The enduring legacy of the Tang Dynasty in East Asia

The Tang-dynasty architecture represents the pinnacle of ancient Chinese craftsmanship and artistry, with an influence that transcended borders and profoundly shaped the architectural landscape of East Asia.

An Jiayao, a research fellow from the Institute of Archaeology at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, emphasized that Sui and Tang architectural styles exerted a lasting impact across the East Asian cultural sphere, particularly in Japan and the Korean Peninsula.

Many ancient buildings in Nara, Japan, for instance, bear strong stylistic traces of the Sui-Tang-dynasty architecture, An said.

An added that by vividly reconstructing Tang architecture through digital technologies, "Tang Architecture: Building Timeless Glory" plays a crucial role in addressing the scarcity of surviving relics, enhancing public awareness – especially among younger generations – and reshaping global understanding of Eastern architectural values. The project carries significant value in science communication and education.

Professor George Kunihiro, fellow at the Architectural Institute of Japan, offered an in-depth analysis of the Tang aesthetic legacy in Japan. He highlighted the Tang Dynasty's signature features – exposed beam-and-column frameworks, vibrant color schemes, and refined proportions – which formed a compelling and systematic architectural aesthetic. These visual characteristics are clearly visible in ancient Japanese structures such as Horyuji Temple. 

Fang Wei, deputy consul general of the People's Republic of China in Osaka, remarked that "Tang Architecture: Building Timeless Glory" reflects the unique values of Chinese culture, the inclusive spirit of Chinese civilization, and the millennia-long thread of cultural exchange between China and Japan.

As digital technology breathes life into the timber architecture of the Tang Dynasty, these ancient forms once again stand tall – this time in the virtual realm. Yet beyond their visual splendor lies something deeper: a rekindling of the civilizational thread that transcends borders and centuries.

"Tang Architecture: Building Timeless Glory" reminds us that heritage is not a specimen to be locked away behind glass, but a living current – an evolving legacy passed from generation to generation. In rendering the architectural wisdom of a golden age both visible and vivid, it offers not merely a glimpse into the past, but a luminous point of reference for the cultural futures yet to come, Fang added.