Research on Dunhuang Manuscripts

Author: Sha Wutian
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Publishing Time: Not available
Features: This book is revised based on the author's doctoral dissertation. Life's serendipities often change one's path. In September 1999, the author entered the Dunhuang Studies Institute of Lanzhou University to pursue a master's degree under Professor Zheng Binglin, which was likely such a serendipity. Previously at the Mogao Caves, the focus was mainly on the caves, with an emphasis on art and archaeology, and extensive contact with Dunhuang documents began upon entering Lanzhou University. Thus, the author traveled between the Mogao Caves and the university—searching for their place in the vast ocean of Dunhuang cave art, cave archaeology, and Dunhuang documents. Later, thanks to the kindness of Professor Zheng Binglin and Researcher Fan Jinshi, the author was allowed to pursue a doctoral degree in September 2001. The two mentors excelled in Dunhuang documents and Dunhuang cave archaeology and art, greatly broadening the author's horizons.
The Mogao Caves' Cangjing Cave, as one of the four great discoveries of ancient documents in the 20th century, caused a huge sensation internationally. As is well known, the main part of the Dunhuang documents has scattered to foreign countries, with collections in the UK, France, Russia, Japan, and other countries, while the remaining fragments are preserved in institutions such as the former Beijing Library, now the National Library of China. Due to the international nature of Dunhuang document collections, Dunhuang studies emerged as an international field of prominence from the beginning, consistently leading academic trends.
Dunhuang documents are vast and profound, and the Dunhuang cave art is rich in content, making them a subject of great interest to academic circles both at home and abroad. The key issue in Dunhuang studies is talent cultivation. Only by training top-tier Dunhuang scholars can first-class research results be produced.