Duan Wenjie

CHINA, Sichuan, Mianyang

Duan Wenjie was a contemporary Buddhist painter. He was an expert on the art of Dunhuang and spent several years conducting research and serving as director of the Dunhuang Research Academy. His ineffable relationship with Dunhuang arts began after he attended an exhibition of murals copied by Chang Dai-Chien in 1944.
Between 1947 and 1948, Duan participated in the serializing, measuring, and content investigation of the Mogao Caves. His research efforts and methods were recognized and praised for their comprehensive and scientific nature. Invaluable insight into various aspects of the ancient artworks were provided by his findings.
Duan traveled around the world sharing his expertise on Dunhuang art, imparting great influence on the academic research of ancient caves. He was highly-regarded by other scholars for his sense of personal commitment to the cultural heritage of China. In 2007, Duan was conferred the Lifetime Accomplishment Award for his research and preservation of the arts of Dunhuang.
In addition to producing several written works about the Dunhuang Caves, it is estimated that Duan painted over 384 copies of cave murals, inlcuding the Bodhisattvas Making Offerings at Mogao Cave 328. The majoring of these paintings are now kept at the Dunhuang Research Academy in Gansu.