British Academy: The UK's National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences
A Hundred Years of Dunhuang, 1907-2007
Organised jointly with the British Museum and British Library
Thursday 17 to Saturday 19 May 2007
17 May - British Library, Euston Road, London NW1
18 May - British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1
19 May - British Academy, 10 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1
The British Academy in conjunction with the British Museum and British Library are hosting this three day international event. It is to be held at the three venues in London from May 17-19, 2007, and is organised by Frances Wood, British Library, and Helen Wang, British Museum.
In May 1907, the Daoist caretaker of the Dunhuang Buddhist caves in northwest China revealed to Aurel Stein FBA a hidden library in Cave 17. The library had been sealed a thousand years earlier and was packed with documents, manuscripts and paintings. This discovery revolutionised ‘oriental studies’ throughout the world in the early 20th century. In this centenary year we seek (1) to reflect on the discovery and (2) to review its impact on ‘oriental studies’, including the writing and re-writing of history and (3) to discuss directions for the future. The rich finds from Dunhuang have implications beyond ‘oriental studies’ and need to be understood as part of world culture.