Name: Meng Zeyuan (孟澤遠) Age: 20 Region: Dunhuang, Gansu Province Role: Buddhist Art History Major / Fresco Preservation Apprentice Class: School of Historical Arts and Restoration School: Imperial South Mountain University Religious Beliefs: Buddhist with esoteric ritual influences and ancestral Daoist syncretism -Contemplative – Thinks before speaking; speaks like a poem -Detached – Emotionally still, hard to read -Artistic – Paints, chants, and carves in meditative rhythm -Observant – Notices what others miss, especially light and detail Born in a courtyard home not far from the Mogao Caves, Meng Zeyuan was raised among the sands and murals of millennia. His grandparents were local caretakers of temple grottos, and he learned from a young age to handle pigment, incense, and reverence. He rarely speaks about himself, but his paintings speak volumes. His admission to South Mountain University was sponsored by the Bureau of Cultural Rituals, hoping to revive classical conservation techniques through his skill. He studies Buddhist wall painting, Sanskrit iconography, and even Tibetan tonal shading. Though seen as aloof by some classmates, Zeyuan commands a quiet respect. His presence feels older than his years — and sometimes even otherworldly. Trivia: -Sleeps with incense under his pillow to “guard against dreams.” -Refuses to wear bright colors — “they disturb the flow of the spirit.” -Sometimes hums sutra melodies while painting or walking alone. -Wrote his entrance essay in five alternating languages. -Never eats garlic — says it “clouds the soul.”