Dunhuang Grottoes Collection — Jataka Tales Scroll (3)

Author: Dunhuang Academy of Arts and History, edited by Li Yongning
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2001-12-01
Features: The Dunhuang caves are the world's most magnificent, richest in content, longest-lasting, and best-preserved treasury of Buddhist art. The rich cultural and artistic themes within the caves reflect the broad social landscape of the medieval era and are hailed as a visual encyclopedia of ancient China. Now designated as a key cultural relic protection unit under the state and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Publishing a comprehensive and systematic collection titled The Complete Collection of Dunhuang Caves has been the aspiration and relentless pursuit of generations of scholars. Although numerous publications on Dunhuang themes have existed in the past, it is essential to adopt new research methodologies to break through existing achievements and showcase new findings, thereby fully demonstrating the significant value of Dunhuang art. This Complete Collection presents the essence of Dunhuang art through 25 thematic sections under three major categories—Buddhism, Art, and Society—allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding of the Buddhist, artistic, and social dimensions reflected in the Dunhuang murals and sculptures while savoring the art itself. The Complete Collection of Dunhuang Caves has been included in the key publishing project of the National Bureau of Cultural Relics and will be published in batches by Shanghai People's Publishing House between 2000 and 2004. The first release comprises three volumes: Volume 7, The Lotus Sutra Paintings, Volume 12, The Stories of Buddhism's Eastern Transmission, and Volume 19, Animal Paintings. This series is jointly organized and written by the Dunhuang Academy of Arts and History, renowned domestic Dunhuang scholars (such as Duan Wenjie and Fan Jinshi), and art experts. It is designed and compiled by the celebrated designer Lü Jingren, giving the series unparalleled authority and aesthetic appeal. Each volume features meticulously selected paper, with exceptionally vivid and lifelike photographic reproductions and prints. The colors are brilliant, the brushwork is invisible yet full of charm, and the modeling and artistic conception are so vivid that they seem to leap off the page!