A WEIGHTY entry into the world of Dunhuang scholarship, a total of 150 volumes of 16,000 manuscripts will be published next year by Beijing Library Press. The "Collections of Manuscripts From Dunhuang in the National Library of China" are photocopies of the treasure trove of 5th- to 11th-century writings from ancient Dunhuang (in today's Northwest Gansu Province).

Dunhuang was a nexus along the Silk Road in ancient times, integrating the cultures of China, India, Persia and the West. Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and Manicheism met and mingled there.

After reading the first 30 volumes of published manuscripts, noted scholar Ren Jiyu, honorary curator of the National Library of China, said this major publishing event proves that the saying "Dunhuang studies only exist in foreign countries" is already history.

Each volume is 400 to 500 pages. The entire 150-volume set will sell for a very reasonable 990 yuan (US$123). According to some scholars, this kind of collection is normally priced at 1,700 yuan, but it will be sold at a low price in hopes of broadening understanding of Dunhuang culture.

"The size of the collection preserved in the National Library of China is one-third of the total amount preserved worldwide," said Chen Li, vice curator of the National Library of China. After the foundation of the People's Republic of China in 1949, some lost manuscripts were returned by Chinese citizens.

Dunhuang studies started with the stunning discovery of Dunhuang's Mogao Caves on June 22, 1900 by Taoist Wang Yuanlu. The caves contained more than 50,000 relics, including Buddhist scriptures, historical documents and paintings.

Unfortunately, the Dunhuang grottoes were looted in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Many of the hand-copied manuscripts, literary works, Buddhist and secular decorative art works were taken by foreign invaders.

The looting gave rise to the belief that most precious Dunhuang manuscripts were in foreign hands, while only some "leftovers" remained in China. It was understood that although Dunhuang was inside China, Dunhuang studies only existed outside China.

In fact, the Dunhuang Institute under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences has produced quality research. Akira Fujida, a Japanese scholar who was among those who believed that Dunhuang research was mostly conducted outside China, commented that the academy now has the largest and strongest research team in Dunhuang studies.

Editor: Wing