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TITLE: Cosmopolitanism at Dunhuang: Two 6th century Buddhist Grottoes

Among the nearly 500 Dunhuang grottoes, two caves in particular stand out. Dating from the 6th century, Mogao caves #249 and #285 are unique for their remarkable synthesis of images and concepts. Here Indian deities blend seamlessly with Chinese bronze-age motifs and Daoist immortals that are in turn peppered with themes from classical Greece and Rome, all of which is framed by Buddhist goals of transcendence. Dr. Neil Schmid explores how these seemingly disparate cultural elements came together coherently for the patrons and donors who created these shrines — and how these two grottoes are striking testaments to the eddies and flows of culture and ideas that swept across Eurasia during the early medieval period resulting in remarkably sophisticated and cosmopolitan creations along the Silk Road. This event is jointly organized by the Courtyard Institute and RASBJ.

WHAT:Cosmopolitanism at Dunhuang: Two 6th century Buddhist Grottoes

WHEN:Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016 from 7:30-9:00 PM

WHERE:The Courtyard Institute,  #28 Zhonglao Hutong, Dongcheng

COST:RMB 50

RSVP:[email protected] and please write “Dunhuang” in the subject header

MORE ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Neil Schmid is a specialist in Chinese Buddhism and Dunhuang Studies. After completing an M.Phil at the École pratique des Hautes Études in Paris and his Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania, he taught at UNC, Duke, and Penn, publishing on Chinese Buddhism, art, andDunhuang. Neil is currently Associate Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Religion and Culture in Asia, University of Groningen, Netherlands, and as of 2016 Guest Professor in the Department of Art History, University of Vienna.