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The murals and tangka paintings hanging in the monasteries of Shannan embody a local style of painting. The subjects include legends, religious themes, and production and life activities from the Tubo period to the Ming and Qing dynasties. They vividly describe the Tibetan people's social and religious history, as well as daily life and the means of production. The murals in the Woze Hall of the Samye Monastery, for example, not only include the Epic Painting of Tibet, the Epic Painting of Samye, and the Biography of Padmasambhava, but also Dances and Acrobatics, Weightlifting and Judo, Track and Field Competitions and Horse racing. They are vivid depiction of Tibetan historical development. The murals in the Buddhist Hall of the Zhatang Monastery, which was built in the 11th century, are reasonably arranged. The colors are faded simple, and the style and character resemble those found in the Dunhuang Grottoes. This style is rarely seen in Tibetan painting and therefore possesses great value to the study of Tibetan history, the Yarlung Culture, and the development of Tibetan Buddhism.
