British Academy: The UK's National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences
A HUNDRED YEARS OF DUNHUANG, 1907-2007
Abstracts
Aurel Stein’s Dealings with Wang Yuanlu and Chinese Officials of Dunhuang in 1907
Dr Wang Jiqing, Lanzhou University
Aurel Stein came to Dunhuang in 1907 at a critical moment when local peasants were on the point of revolts against the long-lasted misgovernment of the authorities. A scare caused by the prevailing of such pestilence as diphtheria overcast the Dunhuang oasis as well. Stein, who had been mistakenly titled ‘Prime Minister of Education of Great Britain’ on his Chinese passport, surprised Wang Jiayan, newly-appointed Magistrate of Dunhuang, and Lin Taiqing, long-resided Commander of Shazhou (Dunhuang) Battalion. Taking advantage of this troubled period, Stein pitched his camp at the Mogao Caves on 21 May. Assisted by his Chinese secretary Jiang Xiaowan, Stein deliberately planned and successfully persuaded Wang Yuanlu, the Taoist priest in charge of Cave 17 by official order since 1904, to give up his duty of guard. Stein examined the whole contents of Cave 17 and eventually bought part of them. The secret transaction between Stein and Wang Yuanlu were carefully hided from all Chinese soldiers, who watched Stein’s party on the spot, or Chinese officials, who visited the Mogao Caves successively during Stein’s stay. Upheavals of situation and fears of diphtheria forced Stein to leave the Mogao Caves on 12 June. Based on Stein’s Diary and Accounts, this paper intends to reexamine and rearrange all events recorded in Stein’s Personal Narrative Ruins of Desert Cathay, Detailed Report Serindia, etc., for the purpose of ascertaining more objective facts.