A Silk Road Oasis Symposium
The British Library is organising a compelling two-day symposium to mark the closing of the exhibition A Silk Road Oasis: Life in Ancient Dunhuang February 21-22. This event brings together a diverse array of emerging and established international scholars, offering fresh insights into Dunhuang’s unique multicultural history and its enduring significance in our contemporary world. The symposium explores cutting-edge research and aims to deepen our understanding of this iconic Silk Road oasis. Keynote speakers will include Michelle Wang (Georgetown University) and Puay Peng Ho (National University of Singapore). Tickets are available for attendance online and in person at the British Library.
A full symposium programme, as well as abstracts and profiles of speakers for both days are available to view here: Programme of ‚A Silk Road Oasis Symposium’
Day 1: Friday 21st February 2025
Discover the intricacies of daily life in ancient Dunhuang and explore Dunhuang’s pivotal role as a Silk Road hub connected to neighbouring regions.
- Keynote: The Thousand Buddhas: Sensing Religion at Dunhuang
Michelle Wang – Georgetown University
- Panel 1: Daily Life in Dunhuang
Moderated by Luk Yu-ping- “All quiet on the Western front?”: New Archaeological Insights on the Dunhuang Imperial Commandery during the Han Dynasty
Arnaud Bertrand – Musée Guimet - Dunhuang Geographical Documents: Knowledge Production and Local History during the Tang
Alexis Lycas – École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE – PSL) - A Buddhist Slave Trade on the Silk Road?
Cuilan Liu – University of Pittsburg - Echoes of the Wind: Dunhuang Banners in Commemoration and Devotion
Yoonah Hwang – Pepperdine University
- “All quiet on the Western front?”: New Archaeological Insights on the Dunhuang Imperial Commandery during the Han Dynasty
- Panel 2: Dunhuang and the Silk Roads
Moderated by Nicholas Sims-Williams- Tracing the Legacy of the Sogdian Script: Transmission and Adaptation Along the Silk Road
Nan Ni – SOAS - New Thoughts about the Dating of Mogao Cave 464’s Murals
Qi Xiaoqing – Dunhuang Academy - Medicine on the Silk Roads
Vivienne Lo – UCL
- Tracing the Legacy of the Sogdian Script: Transmission and Adaptation Along the Silk Road
- Panel Discussion – The Tibetan Empire at Dunhuang: Buddhism and Beyond
Moderated by Sam van Schaik- Lewis Doney – University of Bonn
- Channa Li – Institute for the Cultural and Intellectual History of Asia
- Tsering Samdrup – University of Leeds
Day 2: Saturday 22nd February 2025
Immerse yourself in how Dunhuang continues to inspire today’s artists across various media – from visual arts to music – and learn about innovative new research in Dunhuang studies.
- Keynote: Everyday and Everydayness in Dunhuang
Puay Peng Ho – National University of Singapore
- Panel 1: New Research Avenues in Dunhuang Studies
- Textiles and Dyes from Dunhuang – An Overview of Scientific Research at the British Museum
Diego Tamburini – British Museum - The Dunhuang Manuscripts as a Stepping Stone toward Mass Digitization of China’s Literary Heritage
Colin Brisson – École Pratique des Hautes Études - Using Sound to Explore Ancient Languages of Xinjiang
Colin Chinnery – Sound Art Museum - Analyses of Tocharian Paper Documents Stored at the Bibliothèque nationale de France: Revealing Connections Between Central Asian Peoples
Emilie Arnaud-Nguyen – Freelance paper conservator
- Textiles and Dyes from Dunhuang – An Overview of Scientific Research at the British Museum
- Panel 2: Contemporary Inspiration
Moderated by Colin Chinnery- Researching, Reconstructing, and Reimagining the Dunhuang Library Cave
Xiaoze Xie – Stanford University - Understanding Origins, Illuminating the Path Ahead: the Inheritance and Innovation of Dunhuang Costumes
Chu Yan – Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology - Plurality & Transformation: The Music of Dunhuang
Xiaoshi Wei – China Database for Traditional Music - Seeking Dunhuang beyond its Borders: Overview of Staging Dunhuang Exhibition at Dunhuang Contemporary Art Museum
Zhenru Zhou – Tsinghua University
- Researching, Reconstructing, and Reimagining the Dunhuang Library Cave
Single day or two-day symposium passes grant access to relevant sessions. This event will take place in the British Library Knowledge Centre Pigott Theatre and is also available online to watch on Zoom. Online bookers will be sent a link shortly before the event.
Tickets are available now: Silk Road Events – A Silk Road Oasis Symposium Tickets
This symposium is generously supported by Bei Shan Tang Foundation.