Book Summary of "Seeing Dunhuang"Chapter 1: The Prologue of Dunhuang1.1 The intersection of the Silk Road - Geographic location: Dunhuang is located at the western end of the Hexi Corridor, the intersection of the Silk Road, and an important hub for cultural exchanges between the East and the West. - Historical role: After the prosperity of the Han and Tang Dynasties, Dunhuang became one of the centers of ancient Chinese culture, art and religion. 1.2 The birth and development of Mogao Grottoes - Founding background: Mogao Grottoes were excavated in 366 AD. The monk Le Zun discovered this mountain in search of a place for practice and began to excavate caves for practice. - Development stage: Mogao Grottoes experienced the construction and development of the Sixteen Kingdoms, Northern Dynasties, Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties and other dynasties, forming a world-famous treasure house of Buddhist art. Chapter 2: The artistic charm of Dunhuang murals2.1 The content and theme of murals - Buddhist stories: Most murals describe classic Buddhist stories, such as "King Sibi Cuts Flesh to Save Pigeons" and "Nine-Colored Deer King". - Social life: The murals also reflect the daily life of the time, such as farming, animal husbandry, hunting, music and dance. 2.2 Artistic style of murals - Influence of the Central Plains: The early murals were influenced by the Central Plains, with smooth lines and gentle colors. - Western Region characteristics: Later, the Western Region style was integrated, and the images became more vivid and exaggerated, with rich and warm colors. Chapter 3: The Legend of Dunhuang Color Sculptures3.1 Forms and techniques of colored sculptures - Round sculptures: The main form, known for its realistic image and touching artistic charm. - Relief murals: Integrated with murals, enhancing artistic expression. 3.2 Stories and symbols of colored sculptures - Buddha statues: Reflect the compassion and wisdom of the Buddha. - Bodhisattva statues: Show the compassion and affinity of the Bodhisattva. - Heavenly Kings and Warriors statues: Demonstrate the power of protecting the Dharma. Chapter 4: The Historical Value of Dunhuang Documents4.1 Types and Contents of Documents - Manuscripts of Buddhist Scriptures: They account for a large proportion and are important materials for studying Buddhist history and doctrines. - Social and Economic Documents: They reflect the political system, economic activities and folk contracts of the time. 4.2 The Academic Significance of Documents - Supplementing and verifying history: They provide valuable supplementary materials for historical research. - A Treasure House for Academic Research: They have promoted the development of multidisciplinary fields such as Dunhuang Studies. Through the above analysis, the book "Seeing Dunhuang" comprehensively displays many aspects of Dunhuang culture, including its geographical location, artistic achievements, religious beliefs and historical documents, providing readers with a valuable opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Dunhuang.

The following are excerpts of wonderful sentences or paragraphs written by Xie Chengshui and Haibin in the book "Seeing Dunhuang". These sentences or paragraphs stand out for their profound meaning, unique perspective, beautiful language, wisdom or creativity. Sentences numbered 1 to 20 will be presented in order. The name itself is an ancient poem, telling the glory and silence of a thousand years. " —— This sentence depicts the historical weight of Dunhuang in poetic language. 2. "In the murals of Mogao Grottoes, every stroke is a footnote of time, and every color is the breath of history." —— The author connects the murals with time and history through delicate brushstrokes, showing its profound artistic value. 3. "Walking in Dunhuang, it seems to have traveled through the tunnel of time and space, and every step is on the mark of history." —— This sentence leads readers to feel the historical charm of Dunhuang with vivid descriptions. 4. "The flying fairy of Dunhuang is not only a symbol of art, but also the Chinese nation's thousand-year pursuit of freedom and dreams. ” —— Through the artistic image of Feitian, the author excavates the cultural connotation behind it. 5. "At the end of the desert, Dunhuang is like a bright pearl, shining with the glory of ancient civilization." —— This sentence uses metaphors to vividly depict Dunhuang's unique position in the desert. 6. "Every Dunhuang mural is a story, and every story is a piece of history." —— The author emphasizes the importance of Dunhuang murals as a carrier of history. 7. "Dunhuang's Buddhist art is not only a eulogy of faith, but also a profound insight into human nature and life." —— This sentence reveals the deep meaning of Dunhuang's Buddhist art. 8. "In the depths of Mogao Grottoes, every Buddha statue is a witness to time. They are silent, but they tell the vicissitudes of thousands of years." —— The author uses personification to give the Buddha statues a heavy sense of history. 9. "The colors of Dunhuang are not only a visual feast, but also a touch of the soul. ” —— This sentence emphasizes the shock and touch of Dunhuang art on the soul. 10. "Walking into Dunhuang is like walking into a living historical scroll, and every detail is full of the breath of life." —— The author vividly describes the vividness of Dunhuang's history. 11. "Every grain of sand and stone in Dunhuang seems to carry ancient memories and expectations." —— This sentence gives Dunhuang sand and stone a symbolic meaning through delicate description. 12. "In the murals of Dunhuang, we see the wisdom and creativity of the ancients, and also their yearning and pursuit for a better life." —— The author interprets the spiritual world of the ancients through murals. 13. "The wind in Dunhuang seems to blow from ancient times. It brings the breath of history and takes away the hustle and bustle of modern times." —— This sentence uses wind as a medium to cleverly connect the ancient and modern times of Dunhuang. 14. "Every mural in Mogao Grottoes is an epic, and they together compose the glory and legend of Dunhuang. ” —— The author highly praised the artistic value and historical status of the Mogao Grottoes murals. 15. "In Dunhuang, time seems to have frozen, and thousands of years of history and modern footsteps meet here." —— This sentence shows the profoundness of Dunhuang's history and the vitality of modern times through the contrast of time. 16. "At night in Dunhuang, the starry sky is as bright as gems, as if echoing the ancient civilization." —— The author describes the starry sky at night in Dunhuang with beautiful language. 17. "Every Buddha statue in Dunhuang is the result of the artist's hard work, and they convey endless wisdom and compassion in a silent way." —— This sentence emphasizes the profound connotation of Buddha statues as works of art. 18. "The beauty of Dunhuang lies not only in its appearance, but also in its cultural heritage that has not faded after thousands of years." —— The author highlights the lasting charm of Dunhuang culture through the contrast between inside and outside. 19. "In every mural in Dunhuang, we can see the harmonious coexistence of the ancients and nature, which is the precious wealth they left us. " - This sentence reveals the ecological wisdom contained in the Dunhuang murals. 20. "Dunhuang, this oasis in the desert, is not only a witness to history, but also a inheritor of culture. It uses thousands of years of silence to tell of eternal glory." - The author uses a summary sentence to highly summarize Dunhuang's historical status and cultural value.

Title: Seeing Dunhuang Author: Xie Chengshui, Haibin I.< Introduction to the Author 1.

Xie Chengshui Xie Chengshui, a famous Chinese Dunhuang scholar and historian, was born in 1942 and is from Gansu.< He has long been committed to the study of Dunhuang studies and has a deep understanding and unique insights into Dunhuang culture.

Education and professional background: Xie Chengshui graduated from the History Department of Peking University and later worked at the Dunhuang Research Institute as a researcher and vice president.< His academic career is closely linked to Dunhuang and has made great contributions to the development of Dunhuang studies.

Writing career: Xie Chengshui's writing career began in the 1970s, and his works cover many fields such as Dunhuang history, art, and religion.< His research methods are rigorous and focus on evidence, providing valuable academic resources for later scholars.

Work style and theme: Xie Chengshui's works are known for detailed historical materials, rigorous academic attitudes, and easy-to-understand narrative style.< He pays attention to the diversity of Dunhuang culture and emphasizes the important position of Dunhuang in the cultural exchanges between China and the West.

Personal life: Xie Chengshui lives a simple life, and he devotes most of his time and energy to the study of Dunhuang studies.< His academic spirit and love for Dunhuang culture have infected generations of scholars.

Social influence: Xie Chengshui's research results have had a wide impact at home and abroad.< His works have been translated into foreign languages many times, contributing to the development of international Dunhuang studies.

At the same time, he is also an outstanding representative of the Dunhuang Research Institute and has made great efforts to promote the dissemination and protection of Dunhuang culture.

Quotations and evaluations: The People's Daily once evaluated Xie Chengshui as "one of the founders of Dunhuang studies", and his academic achievements have been highly recognized by the academic community.< 2.

Haibin Haibin, a famous Chinese writer and Dunhuang culture researcher, was born in 1960 and is from Jiangsu.< His works are known for their unique perspectives and vivid narrative style, and are deeply loved by readers.

Education and professional background: Haibin graduated from the Chinese Department of Fudan University.< He taught at Nanjing University and later turned to literary creation and Dunhuang cultural research.

Writing career: Haibin's writing career began in the 1980s.< His works cover many fields such as novels, essays, and historical research.

His creations are based on Dunhuang culture, showing the mystery and charm of Dunhuang.

Style and theme of works: Haibin's works are characterized by vivid narration, rich imagination and profound thinking.< He pays attention to the inheritance and innovation of Dunhuang culture and emphasizes the value of Dunhuang in contemporary society.

Personal life: Haibin loves to travel, and his footprints are all over China, especially Dunhuang.< His travel experience provides rich materials for his creations.

Social influence: Haibin's works enjoy a high reputation at home and abroad.< His works have been translated into many languages, contributing to the promotion of Dunhuang culture.

At the same time, he is also an active disseminator of Dunhuang culture, popularizing Dunhuang knowledge to the public through various channels.

Quotation and evaluation: Guangming Daily once commented that Haibin's works "have high artistic and academic value", and his works have been well received by readers and academic circles.

Latest developments: Xie Chengshui and Haibin have continued their Dunhuang research work in recent years, and their new works and research results have continued to emerge, injecting new vitality into the development of Dunhuang studies.< At the same time, they also actively participate in academic exchanges at home and abroad to promote the dissemination of Dunhuang culture.