The Silkroad Foundation, Center for Chinese Studies at the University of Michigan and Dunhuang Research Academy will co-sponsor the 3rd international seminar on the study of Dunhuang art and society to be held primarily at Dunhuang, China, in the summer of 2004 (June 27-July 16, 2004). The invited speakers for the seminar include Professors Amy McNair (U. of Kansas), Ning Qiang (U. of Michigan) Rong Xinjiang (Peking U.), Robert Sharf (UC Berkeley), Roderick Whitfield (U. of London), Wu Hung (U. of Chicago), and local scholars from the Dunhuang Research Academy and Longmen Research Academy. In addition to visits to the Buddhist caves at Dunhuang, Longmen and Binglingsi, this interdisciplinary seminar will provide twenty lectures/discussions examining a wide range of issues relating to Chinese art, religion, politics, and society.
At Lanzhou stop, the participants may attend a one-day symposium on Buddhist art and culture at Lanzhou University.
Language: The official language of the seminar is English. Lectures by local Chinese scholars will be translated.
Seminar Fee: The estimated fee for the entire seminar is approximately $1700, which covers all entrance fees to caves and sites, accommodations, and transportations in Luoyang, Lanzhou, and Dunhuang. The final travel expenses in details will be available later of the year.
Schedule:
June 27 registration at Luoyang Grand Hotel.
June 28-29 visit the Longmen Caves (mornings) and lectures by Amy McNair and Longmen scholars, followed by discussions (afternoons).
June 30 visit the Great Pagoda (Northern Wei), Guanlin Museum and the Museum of Ancient Tombs.
July 1 take bus to Xi'an and then fly to Lanzhou, stay at the Guest House of Lanzhou University.
July 2 free or attend the symposium on Buddhist art and culture at Lanzhou University.
July 3 visit Binglinsi Caves.
July 4 fly to Dunhuang, stay at Mogao Hotel, Dunhuang Research Academy.
July 5-9 visit the Mogao caves (mornings) and lectures/discussions (afternoons).
July 10 (Saturday) visit the Yulin Caves in Anxi.
July 11 (Sunday) visit historical sites in Dunhuang.
July 12-16 visit the Mogao caves (mornings) and lectures/discussions (afternoons).
July 17 end of the seminar.
List of Lectures
Amy McNair:
1. A Karmic Gift of Sculpture: Religious Functions of Longmen Grottoes
2. The Jeweled Net of Indra: Political Purposes of Longmen Caves
Ning Qiang:
1. Political Projects in Early Tang Dunhuang Art
2. Non-Chinese Contributions to Chinese Art and Literature: A Case Study of the Xiyou Ji Story in Anxi Caves
Rong Xinjiang:
1. Sabao or Sabo: Sogdian Caravan Leader on the Wall-painting in Buddhist Caves
2. Khotanese in Dunhuang and Their Contributions to the Dunhuang Caves
Robert Sharf:
1. The Ritual and Institutional Function of the Dunhuang Caves 1: The Evidence
2. The Ritual and Institutional Function of the Dunhuang Caves 2: What Ritual Theory Can Tell Us.
Roderick Whitfield:
1. Ruixiang and Xiangrui at Dunhuang
2. From Kizil to Dunhuang
Wu Hung:
1. Contextualizing Dunhuang Art
2. Dunhuang "Sutra Painting"
Note: lecture information by Chinese scholars at the Dunhuang Academy and the Longmen Academy will be available later.
Registration: The online registration should be submitted to the Silkroad Foundation by December 15, 2003. The full payment is due by 2/15/2004 once you are accepted to the program.
Maximum of thirty participants will be accepted. For more information, please contact the program director, Prof. Ning Qiang or contact the Silkroad Foundation via email dunhuangseminar@silkroadfoundation.org
