Dunhuang Studies Dictionary

Author: Ji Xianlin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1998-12-01
Features: The compilation and publication project of The Great Dictionary of Dunhuang Studies was jointly initiated by the Dunhuang-Turfan Society of China, the Dunhuang Academy, and ShanghaiCiShu Press. Over 100 experts and scholars from more than 20 universities and research institutions across the country, representing different generations, participated in the project. The dictionary contains over 900 entries, with a total word count of approximately 2 million, more than 700 illustrations (including over 100 color images). Its content covers comprehensive overviews of Dunhuang art from various eras, detailed introductions to dozens of representative caves, and descriptions of Dunhuang manuscripts. The dictionary dedicates one-sixth of its pages to Dunhuang studies, including the history and current state of the field, the collection and cataloging of Dunhuang manuscripts, and the latest research achievements in recent years. The Great Dictionary of Dunhuang Studies is a specialized academic dictionary, with many important entries containing annotations exceeding a thousand words. The first entry, "Dunhuang," alone spans 14,000 words, while the entry for "Dunhuang Studies" was personally written by Professor Ji Xianlin. The book also includes several valuable appendices.
Dunhuang studies encompass an extremely rich and diverse field, covering numerous disciplines. The art of the Dunhuang caves is world-renowned. This book comprehensively reflects this art, including: art of various eras and representative caves; painted sculptures; Jataka tales and causal narrative paintings; preaching scenes; Buddhist historical paintings and auspicious imagery; architectural paintings; paintings of daily life and landscapes; patterns; clothing; mural techniques; cave archaeology; cave preservation; as well as paintings from the Cave of the Stowe Scriptures, music and dance, calligraphy and seals, and more.
Dunhuang manuscripts are world-renowned. This book comprehensively reflects their content, including: geography; historical figures; politics, law, military, and economy; rituals, guilds, folk customs, and inscriptions on manuscripts; ethnic groups and minority languages; language and literature; editions, education, and sports; mathematics, astronomy, calendar, medicine, and divination; Buddhist, Taoist, Manichaean, Nestorian scriptures and monasteries; the four divisions of Confucian classics, etc.
The study of Dunhuang has spanned nearly a century, with scholars across the nation working diligently and achieving significant results. This book comprehensively reflects these efforts, including: public and private collections and numbering systems; publications and journals; academic organizations, conferences, and exhibitions; modern and contemporary figures. The book also includes rich appendices. It is the first large-scale specialized dictionary in the form of a reference tool to reflect the achievements of Dunhuang studies, offering important reference value for the many disciplines it covers. It is also the first major reference work on Dunhuang studies in China, edited by Ji Xianlin. The dictionary contains over 6,900 entries, totaling over 2.41 million words, and includes approximately 700 illustrations (including 100 color images). Its content covers all aspects of Dunhuang studies, including 64 categories such as Dunhuang art, Dunhuang manuscripts, and Dunhuang research, arranged in classified order. Many categories and entries reflect the latest research findings, making it an essential tool for learning and studying Dunhuang studies.