Buddhist cave paintings remain a source of wonder and mystery.  These murals are based on unrelated sutras so there is no clear means to explain why they belong together.  Furthermore, Buddhist meditation rarely requires looking at wall painting, and the low visibility in cave shrines makes viewing a challenging, if not utterly impossible, experience.  Why are caves filled with murals nonetheless? 

Using a fifth-century cave at Dunhuang as an example, Eugene Wang demonstrates the programmatic logic that unifies the murals, sculptures, and architectural elements in these cave shrines. 

Hosted by:  Illinois Fire Service Institute International Programs 

In conjunction with:  Art History Program, Collaborative for Cultural Heritage Management and Policy, Department of Computer Science, Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, Department of Religion, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Krannert Art Museum, School of Art and Design, and Spurlock Museum. 

Thanks to the Center for Advanced Study for this information item.