The exhibition spans three floors of The University of Hong Kong Libraries, presenting 78 representative pieces or sets of Dunhuang art through six major themed sections—“Along the Silk Roads,” “Painted Splendour on the Walls,” “Solemn Buddhist Palace,” “Myriad Aspects of Mundane Life,” “Treasures of Stone Chamber,” and “Wandering in the Pure Land.” This comprehensive showcase reflects the profound richness and depth of Dunhuang culture.
Journey Through Six Zones to Experience a Thousand Years of Splendor
The exhibition begins on the ground floor. At the entrance, the “Along the Silk Roads” section takes you through the history of Zhang Qian’s envoy journeys to the Western Regions and traces the spread of Buddhism. Nearby, “Painted Splendour on the Walls” reveals the architectural secrets of the Dunhuang caves and the lasting vibrancy of their mural pigments—derived from rare Afghan lapis lazuli, locally sourced cinnabar and copper ore, as well as synthetic red lead and verdigris. These pigments, originating from across the globe, were transformed by artisans’ hands into dazzling colors.
The soul of the entire exhibition is found on the second floor, at the “Solemn Buddhist Palace” section—featuring the first complete display in Hong Kong of a 1:1 precision replica of Mogao Cave 45 from Dunhuang. This cave, acclaimed as a paragon of High Tang polychrome sculpture, measures about 25 square meters and nearly 5 meters in height.
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This is a translated version of the original article. View the source here:
Exhibition | HKU Dunhuang Showcase: 1:1 Replica of High Tang Dynasty Grotto — Can You Really “Lie Down” to See the Caisson? | HK01
https://www.hk01.com/article/60255809?utm_source=01articlecopy&utm_medium=referral
