Bulletin Number Three

Symposium and Exhibition on Dunhuang and Turfan Studies An international conference on specialized studies of the history, geography, ethnology, language, society, economics, religion, literature and arts of Dunhuang and Turfan was held from 25th to 27th June at the University and the Hong Kong Institute for Promotion of Chinese Culture respectively. In the meantime, in conjunction with the Symposium, an exhibition of Cultural Relics from Dunhuang and Turfan was displayed at the Art Gallery of the University from 24th June to 2nd August. The Symposium was jointly organized by the Institute of Chinese Studies of The Chinese University and the Hong Kong Institute for Promotion of Chinese Culture. About forty scholars and experts from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, France, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and India attended the Symposium. A strong Chinese delegation consisting of fourteen scholars, several being members of the Association of Dunhuang and Turfan Studies of China, was the most important contingent, while France was represented by a four-member team of experts. Dunhuang and Turfan, through which the legendary ‘silk road' once passed, saw the most significant archaeological discovery of the century. Many sutra manuscripts and mural paintings that were preserved in the desert in this area were made known to the world by the Hungarian explorer Aurel Stein (1862-1943) and French sinologist Paul Pelliot (1878-1945). Over ten thousand of these manuscripts, documents and paintings now kept in the British Museum and Biblioth è que Nationale in Paris form the most valuable source for scholars who try to study the history, politics, economics, society and civilization over the span of the thousand years that led eventually to the decline of this region in the mid- fourteenth century. The Symposium was held at the University's Cho Yiu Hall and was opened by Dr. Ma Lin, the Vice-Chancellor. Professor Ji Xianlin, Director of the South Asian Studies Research Institute, Peking University, and Professor Jao Tsung-i of the Institute of Chinese Studies of the University, also addressed the gathering at the opening ceremony. The papers presented at the Symposium embraced disciplines such as history, economics, sociology, religion, ethnology, language, literature, music, mural painting and sculpture. The Symposium was held in twelve sessions; the following is the list of speakers in alphabetical order: Chang Shuhong Adviser & Professor, Ministry of Culture, China Drege ， J.P. Ecole Francaise d'Extr ê me— Orient, France Duan Wenjie Director & Research Fellow, Dunhuang Research Institute, China Frontispiece by Zhang Daqian 13