‘Khotanese Themes’ in Dunhuang: Visual and Ideological Transfer in the 9th–11th Centuries
This paper highlights mechanisms of cultural and material transfer across the Tarim Basin through the study of interrelations between the two major nodes of Khotan and Dunhuang (敦煌), as reflected through the presence of so-called Khotanese themes in the arts of Dunhuang. Here, Khotanese themes ident...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Brill
2022
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| In: |
Dynamics in the history of religions
Year: 2022, Volume: 12, Pages: 118-152 |
| Further subjects: | B
Altaische & Ostasiatische Sprachen
B Asia B Sprache und Linguistik B Allgemein B Asien-Studien B Art history B Religionswissenschaften B Uralische B Ostasiatische Geschichte B History |
| Online Access: |
Presumably Free Access Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | This paper highlights mechanisms of cultural and material transfer across the Tarim Basin through the study of interrelations between the two major nodes of Khotan and Dunhuang (敦煌), as reflected through the presence of so-called Khotanese themes in the arts of Dunhuang. Here, Khotanese themes identifies specific visual imagery found in the Mogao Caves (Chin. Mogao ku 莫高窟) and Yulin Caves (Chin. Yulin ku 榆林窟) that appeared mainly in the span of time from the 9th century to the early 11th century. This imagery includes: The Auspicious Statues (Chin. ruixiang 瑞像), the Khotanese state tutelary deities known as the Eight Protectors (Kh. haṣṭä parvālā), the legend of the founding of Khotan, and depictions of Mt. Gośīrṣa/Gośṛṅga (Chin. Niutou shan 牛頭山/Niujiao shan 牛角山)—the most sacred place in Khotan. These themes emerged from the Khotanese Buddhist and cultural milieux and found their way to Dunhuang through the close relations that developed between the two oases during that period. These themes were most likely promoted by a (semi-)permanent Khotanese community living in Dunhuang. Attention to Khotanese themes in Dunhuang has grown in the past years, increasing the availability of material that has been seldom studied or, so far, gone unnoticed. This paper presents an overview of the topic and an up-to-date assessment of the material, with an eye toward the archaeological data recent discoveries in the oasis of Khotan brought to light. |
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| Contains: | Enthalten in: Dynamics in the history of religions
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/9789004508446_006 |