Conservation of Yuan Dynasty Caisson Paintings in the Puzhao Temple, Hancheng, Shaanxi Province, China

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript examines the conservation of Yuan dynasty caisson paintings in the Puzhao Temple, Shaanxi, China. It describes the methods of cleaning, deacidification, and reinforcement of the caissons, analyzing the paper fibers, pigments, and binders. The results show that the applied methods are effective, providing a significant example of conservation for similar artworks. The manuscript presents a well-documented and detailed study on the conservation of Yuan dynasty caisson paintings. The methodology is clear, and the experimental procedures are adequately described, while the results are well-supported and provide valuable insights for future applications in the conservation of similar artworks. The manuscript can be further improved by following these guidelines/suggestions:

1) In the introduction, you can enhance the description of the historical significance of the caisson paintings by including more specific chronological details regarding the Yuan Dynasty and the importance of the caissons during that period. Additionally, it would be beneficial to add more contemporary references that support the significance of preserving these artworks.

2) In the methodology section, you could add more details about the equipment used in the analyses (e.g., brands and models of the machines). Furthermore, describing the experimental procedures in greater detail will ensure the reproducibility of the experiments.

3) In the results section, you can use more tables and graphs to visually present the findings, which will help in better understanding the data. Additionally, comparing your results with previous studies can highlight the innovations and differences of your research.

4) In the conclusions, you can expand the discussion on the future prospects of the research and the potential applications of the findings in other conservation cases. Additionally, include the limitations of your research and how they can be addressed in future studies.

5) Although the quality of the English language is generally good, slight editing can improve the flow and clarity of the text. Specifically: i) in line 16, the sentence: "This paper will review the conservation treatment step-by-step." could be rephrased to "This paper provides a step-by-step review of the conservation treatments applied." ii) in line 27, the sentence: "Caisson is a unique decorative part of the interior ceiling in traditional Chinese architecture." can be made clearer: "The caisson is a unique decorative element found in the interior ceilings of traditional Chinese architecture." Iii) in Table 1 of the pH values, you can add a column with the "Average" at the end to make reading the results easier.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The quality of the English language is generally good, slight editing can improve the flow and clarity of the text. Specifically: i) in line 16, the sentence: "This paper will review the conservation treatment step-by-step." could be rephrased to "This paper provides a step-by-step review of the conservation treatments applied." ii) in line 27, the sentence: "Caisson is a unique decorative part of the interior ceiling in traditional Chinese architecture." can be made clearer: "The caisson is a unique decorative element found in the interior ceilings of traditional Chinese architecture." Iii) in Table 1 of the pH values, you can add a column with the "Average" at the end to make reading the results easier.

 

Author Response

Dear editor:

Thank you for your recognize on our manuscript entitled“Conservation of Yuan dynasty caisson paintings in the Puzhao Temple, Hancheng, Shaanxi Province, China（ID: 3141216)”.We have revised the manuscript again our detailed responses to your comments are as follows.

Reviewer 1

The manuscript examines the conservation of Yuan dynasty caisson paintings in the Puzhao Temple, Shaanxi, China. It describes the methods of cleaning, deacidification, and reinforcement of the caissons, analyzing the paper fibers, pigments, and binders. The results show that the applied methods are effective, providing a significant example of conservation for similar artworks. The manuscript presents a well-documented and detailed study on the conservation of Yuan dynasty caisson paintings. The methodology is clear, and the experimental procedures are adequately described, while the results are well-supported and provide valuable insights for future applications in the conservation of similar artworks. The manuscript can be further improved by following these guidelines/suggestions:

• In the introduction, you can enhance the description of the historical significance of the caisson paintings by including more specific chronological details regarding the Yuan Dynasty and the importance of the caissons during that period. Additionally, it would be beneficial to add more contemporary references that support the significance of preserving these artworks.

[Response]:  We thank the reviewer for pointing this out. We have added references to see [1-5].We have corrected this part of content in the new version. which has been marked highlighted in blue.

 

[1] Wang, J; Guo,H.The Type of Temple Hall and Its Shaping Characteristics of Indoor Space in Liao and Jin Dynasties,Art design,2024,03,240.278-280.

[2] Yang,Y.; Li, L.; Xi,J. The Tianhua and Zaojing Ceilings of the Yongle Taoist Temple in Ruicheng, Shanxi Province,Journal of Architecture history,2021,3,50-67.

[3] Li, Y. Evolution of caisson pattern in Dunhuang Mogao grottos,Arts exploration,

2014,28(5),22-24.

[4] Y, T.An image study of caisson in the Hall of Supreme Harmony of the Imperial Palace in Beijing, Chinese Minzu Art,2020,02, 94-99.

[5] Wang,J. A brief analysis of the cultural characteristics of "caisson" in ancient Chinese architecture,World of Heritage,2020,01,43-45.

2) In the methodology section, you could add more details about the equipment used in the analyses (e.g., brands and models of the machines). Furthermore, describing the experimental procedures in greater detail will ensure the reproducibility of the experiments.

[Response]:  We thank the reviewer for pointing this out. We have corrected this part of content in the new version. which has been marked highlighted in blue(see2.2,see2.66).

3）In the results section, you can use more tables and graphs to visually present the findings, which will help in better understanding the data. Additionally, comparing your results with previous studies can highlight the innovations and differences of your research.

[Response]:  We thank the reviewer for pointing this out.We have corrected this part of content in the new version. which has been marked highlighted in blue(see4.12).

4）In the conclusions, you can expand the discussion on the future prospects of the research and the potential applications of the findings in other conservation cases. Additionally, include the limitations of your research and how they can be addressed in future studies.

[Response]:  We thank the reviewer for pointing this out. We have corrected this part of content in the new version. which has been marked highlighted in blue(see5. Conclusions)

5) Although the quality of the English language is generally good, slight editing can improve the flow and clarity of the text. Specifically: i) in line 16, the sentence: "This paper will review the conservation treatment step-by-step." could be rephrased to "This paper provides a step-by-step review of the conservation treatments applied." ii) in line 27, the sentence: "Caisson is a unique decorative part of the interior ceiling in traditional Chinese architecture." can be made clearer: "The caisson is a unique decorative element found in the interior ceilings of traditional Chinese architecture." Iii) in Table 1 of the pH values, you can add a column with the "Average" at the end to make reading the results easier.

[Response]:  We thank the reviewer for pointing this out. We have corrected this part of content in the new version. which has been marked highlighted in blue.

 

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The study proposed by the authors is interesting, as it addresses a subject of extreme utility, the detailed analysis of an intervention for the conservation and restoration of paintings of significant heritage value within the history of China and use by the community and tourism. It is all commendable that the intervention was financed with public money.

The title is correct because it is a case study.

The abstract should be clarified, it could be more objective concerning the article's purpose.

The Introduction is correct because the subject is contextualized, and the objective that covers the gap identified above is referred to – As the authors state, “The purpose of this study is to analyze the data using various analysis methods and provide a basis for the study of subsequent protective treatment schemes”.

Literature review: There is not and should also contain a strong conceptual framework as it does not contextualize the themes addressed.

The methodology is clearly explained.

The results should be compared with those of other similar studies.

The conclusions respond to the problems and objectives initially posed. Still, they must be improved because we need to understand the benefits for the heritage and community and how the methodologies and techniques of analysis, conservation, and restoration can also be applied to similar paintings.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Moderate editing of English language required.

Author Response

Reviewer2

The study proposed by the authors is interesting, as it addresses a subject of extreme utility, the detailed analysis of an intervention for the conservation and restoration of paintings of significant heritage value within the history of China and use by the community and tourism. It is all commendable that the intervention was financed with public money.

The title is correct because it is a case study.

[Response]: Thank you for your recognize on our manuscript title

The abstract should be clarified, it could be more objective concerning the article's purpose.

[Response]:  We thank the reviewer for pointing this out. We have corrected this part of content in the new version. which has been marked highlighted in blue.

The Introduction is correct because the subject is contextualized, and the objective that covers the gap identified above is referred to – As the authors state, “The purpose of this study is to analyze the data using various analysis methods and provide a basis for the study of subsequent protective treatment schemes”.

[Response]:  Thank you for your recognize on our manuscript introduction

Literature review: There is not and should also contain a strong conceptual framework as it does not contextualize the themes addressed.

[Response]:  We thank the reviewer for pointing this out. We have corrected this part of content in the new version. which has been marked highlighted in blue.

The methodology is clearly explained.

[Response]: Thank you for your recognize on our test methodology in the  manuscript 

The results should be compared with those of other similar studies.

[Response]:  We thank the reviewer for pointing this out. We have corrected this part of content in the new version. which has been marked highlighted in blue.

The conclusions respond to the problems and objectives initially posed. Still, they must be improved because we need to understand the benefits for the heritage and community and how the methodologies and techniques of analysis, conservation, and restoration can also be applied to similar paintings.

[Response]:  We thank the reviewer for pointing this out. We have corrected this part of content in the new version. which has been marked highlighted in blue.

Comments on the Quality of English Language Moderate editing of English language required.

[Response]:  We thank the reviewer for pointing this out.The manuscript has been thoroughly revised and edited by a native speaker, so we hope it can meet the journal’s standard. Thanks so much for your useful comments.