Mes Aynak: Buddhist monestary along the Silk Road in Afghanistan
Saturday, 21 April 2012
Friday, 20 April 2012
Old Tibetan Texts in the Stein Collection
Old Tibetan Texts in the Stein Collection Or.8210 is a new catalogue of 88 Tibetan manuscripts from the Dunhuang cave, held at the British Library but previously neglected because they were catalogued in the sequence dedicated to Chinese Dunhuang manuscripts (Or.8210). The catalogue was begun by Professor Tsuguhito Takeuchi of Kobe University, who passed it on to Kazushi Iwao, who worked on it at the British Library with Sam van Schaik of IDP. The catalogue includes an beautifully illustrated astrological divination text, Or.8210/S.6878, and several other texts that offer new insights into Tibetan history and religion. The catalogue is the first in a new series published by the Toyo Bunko: Studies in Old Tibetan Texts from Central Asia. You can download PDF files of the whole book from the Toyo Bunko’s website,here.
Source: IDPukblogspot.com
China to restart sunken ancient ship salvage
Archaeologists announced on Saturday they will resume an operation to salvage artifacts from Nan'ao-1, an ancient merchant vessel sank in waters off the southern province of Guangdong about 500 years ago.
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Archeologists clean up porcelain artifacts salvaged from the sunken ancient ship Nan'ao No 1 in Shantou, Guangdong Province in 2010 [Xinhua]
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The ship sank in the Sandianjin waters off Nan'ao county, Shantou city in the mid or late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It is thought that it was heading for the Philippines and Malaysia, said Cui Yong, who heads the team of archaeologists.
Guangdong was a major center for the sea trade in ancient China.
Some experts believe the ship may have been smuggling as copper in sheet and coin form was excavated from the wreck, and exports of the metal were banned at the time.
Many ancient Chinese dynasties, including the Ming Dynasty, banned the export of copper as the metal was precious and mainly used to manufacture coins, a major currency, in ancient China.
However, archaeologists will only be able to agree on that speculation when the salvage operation, currently 50 percent complete, is finished.
That will hopefully happen this year, according to Cui.
Local fishermen found the wreck, estimated to be about 25 meters long and seven meters wide, in May 2007. It was buried in silt 27 meters under water and about 5.6 nautical miles from Shantou city.
Source: China.org.cn
Precious artefacts uncovered at Shandong ancient tomb
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Archaeologists have recently uncovered an ancient tomb in Yishui county in Shandong province, bringing artefacts that have been buried for over 2,600 years to light. Those uncovered included everyday objects such as make-up brushes as well as royal objects.
Discovering the site of the artefacts is only the beginning, archaeologists then have to undergoing careful excavation to uncover the buried treasure.
But their efforts have paid off - a bell set has been discovered amongst a host of objects. This signifies the prestigious status of who lies in the tomb.
Li Jian, archaeologist, said, "We discovered 3 sets of bells, under the royal custom, only the emperor has 4 sets of bells. People who are allowed to possess 3 sets are regional kings under the emperor."
Also unearthed were small objects like make-up brushes, giving us a glimpse of everyday life in ancient China.
Prof. Ren Xianghong, Shandong University, said, "It's certainly connected to decoration or make-up, the part unearthed is a handle made of jade, we think it's hollow inside where the brushes are placed."
While the exact identity of the owner of the tomb remains unknown, archaeologists believe it most likely belongs to a king or queen of a vassal state of the emperor.
Source: CCTV
Unearthing of ancient tomb underway in E. China
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The unearthing of the ancient tomb in Yishui County, in Shandong Province, is revealing more clues about who is buried there. But as more objects are excavated, will archaeologists be able to confirm the gender and status of the tomb owner? Let's see what the latest discoveries are.
The overall structure of this tomb clearly shows two cases of funeral objects placed in the northern and southern sides of the main burial chamber. Bronze wares discovered in the two cases include an ancient cooking vessel, jade dagger-axes and other bronze wares. All these items indicate nobility.
Prof. Ren Xianghong, Shandong University, said, "We have discovered a great number of daily necessities, such as huge exquisite water containers, cookers, wine vessels. This is unusual."
However, it is still hard to determine the gender of the tomb owner, archaeologists say.
In the course of cleaning up the northern case, archaeologists have found some lady's belongings such as dressing cases as well as weapons like bronze swords and arrowheads. This has caused confusion over the gender and status of the tomb's owner.
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| The unearthing of the ancient tomb in Yishui County, in Shandong Province, is revealing more clues about who is buried there. |
Prof. Ren said, "We have excavated from the earth not only bronze swords, but also arrowheads, which are a type of long-distance destructive weaponry."
Although archaeologists believe this tomb most likely belongs to a king or queen of a vassal state of the emperor, the weapons and feminine objects make the mystery of the tomb even harder to solve.
Source: CCTV
Afghanistan restores heritage sites
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As we also mark World Heritage Day, let's go to Afghanistan to look at the country's rich history, which, despite decades of war, has not been lost. You have seen the images of poverty and war, even as recently as a few days ago. But, despite that reality, there is so much more to Afghanistan. Located along the ancient Silk Road, over time many different cultures passed through, each leaving their own little drop of influence in what has become a vast and rich cultural heritage.
With the wealth of antiquities and traditions, it is true that over 30 years of war have left much of Afghanistan's heritage damaged or destroyed completely. But since the fall of the the Taliban in late 2001, much has been done to restore what is left. We met Omarkhan Massoudi, the Director of the National Museum, who told CCTV what it was like to protect Afghanistan's history- first through the Civil War, and again during the Taliban rule.
Omarkhan Massoudi, director of The National Museum, said, "At that time, this museum was looted too much, and also unfortunately around 50, 70% of the artefacts were looted during the civil war from the museum. I have to mention for two years our relation was cut from our museum. For security we couldn't have contact with the building, with our museum."
With help from foreign donors, Mr. Massoudi and his team were able to repair the building and the artefacts that were left but damaged, due to being subjected to the elements when the museum lost it's roof, doors and windows. And then the Taliban came.
Omarkhan Massoudi said, "One thing that was a really important, this was big tragedy during the Taliban also was in 2001 they took the decision to destroy the artefacts which has human figure. simply They said that keeping a statue like this was against Islam. It was difficult to stop their action. The knowledgeable people the cultural people request them that it was part of our history we have to preserve them. But I don't know why the suddenly changed their minds and they started their action and they destroyed more than 2,500 pieces inside the museum. Among those you can see this bodhisattva."
The National Museum then took great strides, with limited resources and equipment, to repair the damaged statues, mostly buddhas thought to be from between 2- 5CE.
Massoudi said, "From 2003, more than 4,000 artefacts were restored at the national museum, also more than 300 statues that were damaged by the Taliban they were restored."
Across Kabul, in the city center, another man works to restore and preserve lost traditions in architecture. The area in the heart of the now bustling city, called Murad Khane, was in the crossfires of the civil war. Many residents simply left, and the 18th century buildings, each a previous showcase of intricate carved wood detail that is original to Afghanistan, fell into disrepair. Engineer Ahmadazai, who works with the Turquoise Mountain Foundation, tells us why his restoration work has been important.
Hedayatullah Ahmadzai, Turquoise Mountain Foundation, said, "Culturally it's good for the whole of Afghanistan's people, because if had missed it, in 2006, because the buildings were in such bad condition, if we lost it, these carvings, we lost strong culture of 250 years ago."
The rebuilding of the traditional houses, and the institute located there, is meant to both restore Afghanistan's past and teach the new generation how to continue it so that it's rich craftsmanship does not die out.
And now there is hope for one of Kabul's most iconic buildings. Once a sign of power, the Darulaman Palace, built in the 1920s by King Amanullah Khan, was ruined throughout the decades of fighting, and has become a sign of Afghanistan itself- once a majestic place, now destroyed. Finally, the city is trying to raise funds to rebuild the palace and return the building to a source of pride.
CCTV's Courtney Body said, "One main point that has been made by all of the people trying to preserve and restore Afghanistan's vast heritage, is the necessity for the younger generation to be educated and involved in their history, and to continue to move forward and rebuild their society."
Source: CCTV
Treasures of Yuanmingyuan, Buddha statues displayed in NE China
Photo's taken on April 14, 2012 show the bronze head of a bull, of a monkey, 5 sculptures and some Buddha sculptures exhibited during an exhibition of treasures of Yuanmingyuan and Buddha Sculptures of the Northern and Southern Dynasties in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Animal head sculptures from Yuanmingyuan, the Old Summer Palace, and other 14 Buddha statues dating to the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589 AD) were displayed here. (Xinhua/Wang Kai)
Saturday, 14 April 2012
The Mongols: A Very Short Introduction
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The Mongols: A Very Short Introduction
by Morris Rossabi
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: OUP USA (26 April 2012)
Language English
ISBN-10: 019984089X
The Mongols carved out the largest land-based empire in world history, stretching from Korea to Russia in the north and from China to Syria in the south in the thirteenth century. Along with their leader Chinggis Khan they conjure up images of plunder and total destruction. Chinggis and his descendants introduced a level of violence that had perhaps never been seen in world history. Although this book does not ignore the devastation and killings wrought by the Mongols, it also reveals their contributions. Within two generations, they developed from conquerors and predators seeking booty to rulers who devised policies to foster the economies of the lands they had subjugated. Adopting political and economic institutions familiar to the conquered populations and recruiting native officials, they won over many of their non-Mongol subjects. Mongol nobles were ardent patrons of art and culture. They supported and influenced the production of Chinese porcelains and textiles, Iranian tiles and illustrated manuscripts, and Russian metalwork. Their most significant contribution was to foster the greatest contacts among diverse civilizations in world history. The Mongol peace they imposed on much of Asia and their promotion of trade resulted in considerable travel and relations among numerous merchants, scientists, artists, missionaries, and entertainers of different ethnic groups. It is no accident that Europeans, including Marco Polo, first reached China in this period. Eurasian and perhaps global history starts with the Mongol empire. Rossabi follows the Mongol empire through to collapse due to internal disunity. Struggles for succession and ill-planned and expensive military campaigns ultimately tore apart one of the most influential empires in world history.
La steppe et L'Empire Khitan: La formation de la Dynastie Khitan (Liao)
By Pierre Marsone
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Belles Lettres (15 April 2011)
Language French
ISBN-10: 2251381090
Pendant que commence en Europe le Xe siècle, le « siècle de fer », en Extrême-Orient l'empire des Tang s'effondre. C'est à ce moment que le peuple des Khitan établit, aux marches septentrionales de la Chine, un empire immense qui constituera pendant plus de deux cents ans l'interface entre la Chine et l'Eurasie, au point qu'au XIIIe siècle Marco Polo parlait encore de « Cathay ». Les découvertes archéologiques récentes et des progrès significatifs dans le déchiffrement des deux écritures khitan originales inventées simultanément au début de l'empire, font de l'étude des Khitan un domaine prometteur. La Steppe et l'Empire nous permet de suivre sur plus de cinq siècles les contacts tantôt violents tantôt harmonieux entre un peuple nomade et son voisin chinois, et d'entrevoir progressivement combien est parfois ténue la frontière entre un monde « civilisé » et ses « barbares ». Cette épopée nous conduit jusqu'à la création du « Grand Empire central des Khitan ». Si l'événement bénéficia d'une conjoncture historique favorable, il n'est pas dû à un hasard de l'histoire mais au génie politique d'un homme, Yelü Abaoji. Héritier d'une lignée de très puissants premiers ministres d'une sorte de pré-empire khitan, Abaoji se sentait investi d'une mission divine et sut, en quelques années, non seulement unifier son peuple, les tribus voisines et des populations chinoises, mais aussi instaurer, au nom du Ciel, une nation qui tutoya longtemps l'empire du Milieu.
The Campaigns of Alexander
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The Landmark Arrian: The Campaigns of Alexander
By: James S. Romm
Publisher: Presidio Press; annotated edition (15 Mar 2012)
Language English
ISBN-10: 1400079675
During twelve years of continuous campaigns, Alexander conquered an empire that stretched from the shores of the Adriatic to the edge of modern India. Arrian's history of those conquests, the most reliable and detailed account to emerge from the ancient world, is a work that will fascinate readers interested in classical studies, the history of warfare, and the origins of East-West tensions that still simmer today in Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan. Drawing on Ptolemy's memoirs and other sources that have not survived antiquity, Arrian's portrait of Alexander is unmatched for its accuracy and immediacy. Having served as a high Roman official with command of an army, Arrian had a unique perspective on Alexander, imbued with a level of understanding that only firsthand military experience can provide. In the richly illustrated and annotated style of the Landmark series, The Campaigns of Alexander, which features an engaging and eloquent new translation by Pamela Mensch, brings together some of the pre-eminent classics scholars at work today to create what is certain to be the definitive edition of this essential work of history.
Friday, 13 April 2012
Tibetan treasures first exhibited in South China's Guangdong
An exhibition of rare treasures from southwest China's Tibet opens in the country's south Guangdong Province on April 10, the first of its kind ever held in the coastal province, according to the organizer.
Over 200 cultural relics are displayed in six sections, covering ancient books and records, Buddhist statues, Thangka paintings, Buddhist instruments, Tibetan costumes and Tibetan household supplies, in the Provincial Museum of Guangdong in its capital city Guangzhou.
The exhibits are all from Tibet Museum, the only first-grade state museum in Tibet combining functions of collection, exhibition and research of cultural relics.
With relics ranging from the 9th century to the 20th century, the exhibition fully displays the time-honored Tibetan culture and ethnic charms.
Among the exhibits, gilt copper statue of Green Tara, a merciful female Buddha in Tibetan Buddhism, is displayed out of Tibet Museum for the first time, said Dawa Darkpa, curator of Tibet Museum.
During the exhibition, the museum will hold other related activities such as painting contests themed "Tibetan Plateau in my heart", four lectures and relevant salons, according to the organizer.
Co-organized by the cultural departments of both Guangdong and Tibet, the exhibition will lasts until June 28.
Source: Chinese Archeology
Source: Chinese Archeology
2nd Angkor Wat to wake
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The temples at Banteay Chhmar, dubbed as Cambodia’s "Second Angkor Wat" are slowly returning to life after eight centuries of isolated slumber.
Archaeologists have been invited to rebuild the ancient temples stone by stone. With landmines cleared and roads being paved, the temples will soon be on the tourist trail.
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| Temples at Banteay Chhmar |
The famous temples at Angkor Wat are Cambodia’s biggest tourist attraction, drawing around 7-thousand tourists a day from around the world.
Yet 160 kilometers to the west, in Banteay Chhmar, the scene couldn’t be more different.
Known as Cambodia’s "Second Angkor Wat", the 12 square kilometer complex of ancient Angkorian temples attracts just one or two visitors a day. The temple was built by King Jayavarman VII in the 12th Century - shortly after he constructed Angkor Wat - to commemorate his son, who was killed in battle.
After centuries of neglect, many of the temples have collapsed while others have been swallowed up by dense undergrowth. But there’s more that keeps it from being a mass tourist attraction.
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| Banteay Chhmar temple |
Yim Sothin, Director of Dept. of Safeguarding Banteay Chhmar, said, "There were many landmines in Banteay Chhmar. There are still a lot of unexploded landmines around here. Also, the road up here is very bad so it was hard for tourists to get to the temples at Banteay Chhmar."
In 2008, after almost a decade of work in the area, the Cambodian Mine Action Center declared the site of the temples free from landmines, allowing restoration work to begin.
A new road connecting Banteay Chhmar with the provincial capital Sisophon is almost complete. It will cut the journey time from eight hours to less than three.
To rebuild the temples, the government sought outside expertise - teaming up in 2008 with veteran British archaeologist John Sanday from the California-based Global Heritage Fund, who has spent twelve years restoring temples at Angkor Wat.
Rebuilding the temples at Banteay Chhmar is likely to take decades to complete. But Sanday’s strategy is to train his team to a professional standard so that they can carry on the work after he’s gone.
John Sanday, Director of Banteay Chhmar Temples Restoration, said, "The whole process is one of imparting knowledge and experience to these people on site and the ambition, really, is that we would eventually hand over a complete conservation unit of professionals - architects, archaeologists."
Only the most intrepid traveller makes it out to Banteay Chhmar at the moment, but Sanday knows that mass tourism - like at Angkor Wat - could one day become a reality.
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Wednesday, 11 April 2012
Buddhist Art and its Conservation
Detail of a 17th-century painting in the Lama Lhakang, Trongsa Dzong, Bhutan. Image © The Courtauld and the Department of Culture of Bhutan.
LONDON.- The Courtauld Institute of Art announced the creation of a new MA programme in Buddhist Art: History and Conservation. Generously funded by an endowment of £2.5 million by The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation of Hong Kong, the programme will operate in collaboration with School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). Recognising the global significance of the vast cultural heritage of Buddhism, this innovative MA will, for the first time, combine the separate studies of Buddhism, Buddhist art and its conservation. This multidisciplinary challenge will be met by combining the international expertise of The Courtauld and SOAS, both colleges of the University of London . By advancing understanding and scholarship of what objects mean, how they are made, used and deteriorate, the MA will foster appreciation of their significance and need for preservation. The MA will address issues of the conservation of Buddhist art in varied contexts – in continuing use, at archaeological and historical sites, and in collections – throughout Asia and beyond. This diversity of modern context is matched by the wide range of types of object, from painted cave temples along the Silk Road , to colossal sculptures, delicate porcelain and illuminated manuscripts. Professor Deborah Swallow, Märit Rausing Director of The Courtauld, and previously Keeper of the Asian Department at the Victoria and Albert Museum , said: “The new MA integrates The Courtauld’s strengths in conservation, art history and curating in a remarkably innovative manner. I am delighted that this initiative, which draws on the international excellence of our partner SOAS, reflects our long-term goals and those of The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation, as well as The Courtauld’s expansion into the field of Asian art.” “Until now, Buddhism and Buddhist art and its conservation have been studied separately,” Mr Robert Y. C. Ho, Chairman of the Board of The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation, said. “We are delighted to support the integration of these fields in a new programme that will impact not only on academia but on the preservation of irreplaceable treasures around the world, treasures we see disappearing on a daily basis. For the first time, the conservation of Buddhist art will be the focus of academic and practical study rather than relegated to a sideline or ignored completely. The concept behind the project is a direct reflection of the Foundation’s express interests in promoting education in the arts, nurturing talent, encouraging cross-cultural understanding and preserving traditional Chinese and Buddhist arts and cultural heritage.” The one-year MA includes teaching and research in the three principal areas of Buddhist studies, Buddhist art history, and conservation theory and approaches. Taught by a wide range of distinguished professionals, the programme also includes extended visits to important Buddhist sites and collections for first-hand study. A research dissertation allows the eight students to explore subjects of particular interest. The MA leads to careers or further study in conservation, art history, site management, curating, and Buddhist studies. The new MA will build on research, conservation and teaching in Asia – in Bhutan , China and India – by The Courtauld’s renowned Conservation of Wall Painting Department, under the direction of Professor David Park and Sharon Cather. This work is the focus of a TV documentary, The Hidden Art of the Buddha, now being made by Mark Stewart Productions. The genesis of the MA is another innovative venture sponsored by The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation in collaboration with The Courtauld: The Buddhist Art Forum, being held at The Courtauld from 11 to 14 April 2012. Likewise addressing issues of the production, use, study, display and conservation of Buddhist art, the Forum brings together varied specialists and stakeholders from around the world to explore their connection. The MA initiative forms part of The Courtauld’s expansion beyond the Western tradition, marked also by the recent appointments of two new teaching posts in Asian art history, supported by Manuela and Iwan Wirth, and by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Source: Artdaily.org
Memorial rites honoring Genghis Khan
A prayer touches a horse believed to have special spiritual power for good luck during the memorial rites honoring Genghis Khan, the 13th-century Mongolian warrior and founder of the Mongol Empire, at the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan in Ejin Horo Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, April 11, 2012. The memorial rites, dating back over seven centuries, is held from March 17 to March 24 on the Chinese Lunar calendar annually. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)
People attend the memorial rites
Monday, 9 April 2012
More antiquities discovered in Taxila
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