The Nature of the Dunhuang Library Cave and the Reasons for its Sealing (original) (raw)

THE NATURE OF THE DUNHUANG LIBRARY CAVE AND THE REASONS FOR ITS SEALING*

RONG Xinjiang ^fffl Translated by Valerie HANSEN

The 1900 discovery of the Mogao Cave No. 17 (usually called the library cave) in Dunhuang stunned the scholarly world. The reasons for the sealing of the cave on the northern wall of Cave 16, and its timing, have long

This article was originally published in Chinese as "Dunhuang cangjingdong de xingzhi ji qi fengbi yuanyin" ffe'JÉÏfêi&fêlfôfÈM&gèf fflJKH, in Dunhuang Tulufan yanjiu fi'MP±##fijf ^S (Journal of the Dunhuang and Turfan Studies), vol. II (1997), pp. 23-48.

Cahiers d'Extrême-Asie 11 (1999-2000) : 247-275.