At the invitation of the "Future Lecture Hall" of the Soong Ching Ling Foundation of China, Wang Xudong recently gave a lecture on "From Dunhuang to the Forbidden City-Traditional Future".
Before becoming the director of the Palace Museum, Wang Xudong stuck to the Gobi Desert for 28 years, witnessed the Mogao Grottoes from rescue protection to preventive protection, and the digital Dunhuang flew into the homes of ordinary people, which also helped Dunhuang culture better go international.
Wang Xudong said that Dunhuang culture was formed on the trade exchange channel, and the Forbidden City, as a royal palace, gathered the fruits of Chinese civilization, and their connotations, characteristics and endowments were different. "But in the middle of the different, we will see many similarities. This is the charm and strength of culture. "
"Cultural development cannot be separated from mutual learning"
"In such a small oasis surrounded by the Gobi Desert, there are 735 caves preserved, which lasted from the 4th century to14th century. Among them, 492 caves have murals and colored sculptures. " Talking about Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, Wang Xudong is full of feelings. It is a treasure house of Buddhist art and has witnessed the development of Buddhism in China and China.
Wang Xudong pointed out that the birth of the Mogao Grottoes was closely related to the Silk Road, and it was through this trade road that Indian Buddhism was introduced to China. "The vast desert, all people from east to west, must stop in this place, supply their life needs. Therefore, culture will take root and sprout in such a place where someone can stay. "
Wang Xudong believes that the birth of Mogao Grottoes is also inseparable from the accumulation of Central Plains culture. "After the county was founded in Dunhuang, a large number of immigrants from the Central Plains brought Confucian culture, which has been deposited here for more than 400 years. The development of culture requires the blending and mutual learning of different cultures. "
"What are the similarities and differences between Dunhuang and the Forbidden City?"
In Wang Xudong's view, Dunhuang is a world of Buddhist art, and the Forbidden City is a gathering place of China culture. "What are the similarities and differences between Dunhuang and the Forbidden City? I am from Dunhuang, and my perspective may be somewhat unique. "
Wang Xudong believes that the emergence of Dunhuang reflects the promotion of folk forces and cannot be separated from such a religious belief as Buddhism. In the Forbidden City, it is the strength of the national will that has created this great architectural complex, and it is also a gathering of cultures of various countries. "Without the power of the state, the integration of Yongle Dadian, Sikuquanshu and ancient and modern books could not be completed by the power of the people."
But at the same time, Wang Xudong pointed out that the rise of Dunhuang culture should be supported by the relative stability and prosperity of the country. Without folk power, the palace of the Forbidden City could not be built. "So there is a country behind people, and there are people behind the country."
"Dunhuang culture is undoubtedly the crystallization of multiculturalism. In fact, the Forbidden City is also the crystallization of multiculturalism. " Wang Xudong said that in the Forbidden City, cultures of different religions and countries can be seen in various cultural relics such as buildings, paintings and utensils, which also reflects the inclusiveness and vitality of Chinese culture.