Silk Road Cultural Exchanges and the Origins of the Painting Patterns from the Cave Temple of the Zhai Family in the Zhenguan Era of the Tang Dynasty

Abstract

Cave 220 of the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes is a significant cave excavated during the early Tang Dynasty. Based on votive texts and inscriptions in the cave as well as relevant historical records, this cave was carved between the 16th year of the Zhenguan era (642) under the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty and the second year of the Longshuo era (662) under the reign of Emperor Gaozong. The numerous sutra illustration murals in its main chamber, particularly the row of seven standing Bhaisajyaguru statues on the north wall and the portrait of the emperor in the Vimalakirti Sutra Illustration on the east wall, which is similar to the emperors portrayed in Yan Liben’s The Thirteen Emperors. These paintings, which seem rather out of place compared to the artistic contents of nearby caves, had likely been copied from patterns of the capital Chang’an. The Tang Dynasty firmly secured control over Dunhuang in the sixth year of the Wude era (623) under the reign of Emperor Gaozu. Particularly after Dunhuang was officially renamed Sha Prefecture in the seventh year of the Zhenguan era (633), the connections between the Central Plains and Dunhuang were further strengthened. Some large and influential families and literati frequently journeyed to Dunhuang. Some native literati of Dunhuang, like Zhai Tong, who journeyed to Chang’an and achieved the degree of Classicist through the Prefectural Nominee. Furthermore, envoys were dispatched from Chang’an to Dunhuang in the 18th year of the Zhenguan era (644) to welcome Xuanzang on his return journey to the east. Any one of these people could have brought the painting patterns of Chang’an to Dunhuang. It can therefore be concluded that the painting patterns present in Cave 220 of the Mogao Grottoes, initiated in 642, represent the inevitable result of cultural exchanges between the Central Plains and Dunhuang.

Keywords

Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes / Cave Temple of the Zhai Family / Xuanzang / Liu Demin / Bhaisajyaguru / portrait of the emperor

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Higher Education Press