Intangible heritage restoration of damaged tomb murals through augmented reality technology: A case study of Zhao Yigong Tomb murals in Tang Dynasty of China

Tomb murals are a precious amalgamation of tangible and intangible heritage, encapsulating profound historical significance and aesthetic value. While tangible heritage often gains more attention than intangible heritage in cultural protection, it is still imperative to acknowledge that intangible heritage complements and substantiates the historical, cultural and artistic context. Tomb murals contain intangible heritage elements such as religious practices, customs and artistic techniques. Tomb murals from the Tang Dynasty of China showcase the cultural richness of both tangible and intangible heritage. Nevertheless, there are many challenges to the protection of Tang Dynasty tomb murals. In light of these challenges, the current study aims to protect the intangible heritage embodied in Tang Dynasty tomb murals through augmented reality technology. A Tang Dynasty tomb, the Zhao Yigong Tomb, has been selected as the research object. Seven murals from this tomb were restored using a process involving two-dimensional and three-dimensional modelling combined with augmented reality (AR) technology. Throughout the restoration process, the current study explores the impact of religious customs associated with the Zhao Yigong Tomb on mural contents and artistic techniques. The scenes depicted in these seven murals were integrated into an on-cloud AR platform to establish an effective process for protecting intangible heritage in tomb murals and stimulate further research, design and development. This study identifies the target audience as researchers, educators and college students interested in history, art and culture. To evaluate the current study, researchers and educators with relevant working backgrounds and college student participants with different backgrounds and interests were invited to test the AR application in the field, followed by one-to-one interviews for a usability assessment. The usability assessment shows that the AR application is widely accepted. In addition to adding information interactively, it helps the audience to improve their understanding of Tang Dynasty art and culture.