2022 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Documentation and Study on Khotan-related Visual Themes in the arts of Dunhuang (9th to 11th centuries)
| Project/Area Number |
22K00162
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| Research Institution | Kyoto University |
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Principal Investigator |
Forte Erika 京都大学, 人文科学研究所, 教授 (50899979)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2022-04-01 – 2025-03-31
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| Keywords | Khotan / Dunhuang / Art / Archaeology / Buddhism / Silk Road / Cave Temples / China |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
The main goal of Year 1 of the project was to finalize a database to collect the existing material in Dunhuang 敦煌 on: paintings displaying themes and subjects related to the ancient Khotan Kingdom; inscriptions testifying support and participation in the construction and decoration of the caves from members of the Khotanese community living in Dunhuang and from people directly related to them. Other documentation come from texts and artifacts found in the so-called Library Cave (Cave n. 17) in Dunhuang.
Documentation on more than thirty caves has revealed recurrent themes decorating these caves, appearing mostly in the 10th c.: the Khotan Kingdom founding legend; Eight Protectors of Khotan; the sacred Ox Horn 牛角 /Ox Head 牛頭 mount of Khotan; and Auspicious Images (瑞像).
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
After the setting up of the database, a research trip to China to verify the data at the sites of Dunhuang was in the original plan. Unfortunately the COVID situation in the year 2022 made such a research trip to China rather difficult. The trip has been, therefore, postponed to Year 2 (2023).
Planned participation to a panel at the International Association for Buddhist Studies in Seoul in August 2022 did not occur, because the panel was cancelled. Cancellation was due to the difficulties of traveling to Seoul by panel participants and panel convener, partly because of COVID pandemic.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In the course of Year 2 of the project the database is expected to be completed with additional information. A research trip to China (Beijing and Dunhuang), combined to a visit to the British Library collection in London will help refining the data.
Foreseen dissemination activities includes: a presentation at a dedicated workshop on Khotan at Rome University (Italy, June 2023); preparation of two articles for publication; and possibly the setting up of a web page about the project where some preliminary results can be accessed publicly.
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| Causes of Carryover |
The incurring amount was planned in the FY1 for traveling expenses related to: a) participation to international conference in Seoul, August 2023; b) fieldwork in China. Both travels have been cancelled due to complications of COVID pandemic. The amount will be used in the next fiscal year to conduct the postponed fieldwork research in China and to participate to two conference in Europe (Rome, June 2023; Prague, November 2023). Part of the amount will be dedicated also to the creation of a project web page as Personnel Expenditure and Remuneration.
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Research Products
(3 results)
