The Dunhuang manuscript corpus: copying, preservation, and compilation (4th–11th century CE)

1. Mogao Caves founded near Dunhuang oasis

   Jan 1, 366Labels: Mogao Caves, Lezun

   • UNESCO
   • Britannica

2. Early Dunhuang copying attested by a dated manuscript

   Jan 1, 406Labels: Dunhuang manuscript, colophon

   • IDP Article
   • UGent Paper

3. Hongbian memorial setting shapes later Library Cave use

   Jan 1, 862Labels: Library Cave, Wu Hongbian

   • IDP Items
   • Mogao Caves

4. Buddhist printing evidenced by the 868 Diamond Sutra

   May 11, 868Labels: Diamond Sutra, printing

   • Oxford Cabinet
   • IDP Blog

5. Dunhuang corpus reflects many scripts and communities

   Jan 1, 900Labels: Dunhuang corpus

   • IDP Overview
   • Mogao Caves

6. Latest dated Library Cave documents cluster near 1002

   Jan 1, 1002Labels: Library Cave, dated documents

   • Mogao Caves
   • IDP Cave 17

7. Library Cave walled off in the early 11th century

   Jan 1, 1011Labels: Library Cave, sealing

   • Dunhuang Manuscripts
   • Old Tibetan Chronicle

8. Daoist caretaker Wang Yuanlu discovers the sealed cave

   Jun 25, 1900Labels: Wang Yuanlu, Mogao Caves

   • China org cn
   • Dunhuang Manuscripts

9. Aurel Stein acquires a major portion of manuscripts

   Jan 1, 1907Labels: Aurel Stein, British Museum

   • Dunhuang Manuscripts
   • IDP History

10. Paul Pelliot acquires manuscripts for France

    Jan 1, 1908Labels: Paul Pelliot, BnF

    • Pelliot Bio
    • Dunhuang Manuscripts

11. Mogao Caves recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

    Jan 1, 1987Labels: Mogao Caves, UNESCO

    • UNESCO

12. International Dunhuang Project established for shared access

    Apr 11, 1994Labels: International Dunhuang, British Library

    • IDP History
    • UIA Profile