Shaping the Stein collection’s Dunhuang corpus (2): the items from Cave 17’s ‘miscellaneous’ bundles

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In a previous blog post , we looked at the instrumental role played by Wang Yuanlu during the selection of the items from the Cave 17. Wang, who directly chose from the small repository what to hand over to Stein for inspection, was very keen to divert his attention from the so-called ‘regular’ bundles, which were composed for the most part of Buddhist sutras in Chinese and Tibetan. During their first ever transaction, which took place between 21 May and 6 June 1907, Wang Yuanlu therefore began by handing over the ‘miscellaneous’ bundles, which he seemed to hold in low estimation. To Stein’s delight, these contained mixed and diverse materials, such as manuscripts in non-Chinese languages, illustrated scrolls, paintings, drawings, ex-votos, textiles, etc. Stein picked out any of the items that jumped at him as being particularly interesting and made sure to put them aside for ‘further examination’, the phrase that he used to refer to their removal in his transaction with Wang. This ...
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IDP’s 20th Anniversary: Programme of Events

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To celebrate IDP’s 20th anniversary we will be organising a series of events and activities over the next year. Details will be added and updated below and on our programme page. From November 1 the IDP blog will also feature ‘A Few of Our Favourite Things’, a weekly post showcasing IDP collection items selected by twenty of IDP’s partners, supporters and users. Please contact idpevents@bl.uk for more information.

Download a PDF of the programme of events

LECTURE: ‘MAPPING THE SILK ROAD’
1 NOVEMBER 2013
18.30–20.30
FREE ENTRY

In recent years a team of experts have conducted research into the Silk Road’s sites and routes as part of the Silk Roads World Heritage Serial and Transnational Nomination in Central Asia project. Tim Williams, archaeologist at University College London (UCL) and leader of the UCL Ancient Merv Project, has been working on this project for several years. In this lecture he will discuss the considerable challenges of mapping the the Silk Roads and their sites.

Conference Centre
The British Library
96 Euston Road
London, NW1 2DB
MAP

EXHIBITION: ‘AUREL STEIN AND THE SILK ROAD’
6 JANUARY – 14 FEBRUARY 2014
MONDAY–SATURDAY
FREE ENTRY

Between 1900 and 1916 the archaeologist and scholar, Aurel Stein, led three expeditions to the Taklamakan and Lop Deserts of western China in search of the sand-buried settlements of the Silk Road. He excavated scores of sites and took over 5000 photographs. These photographs of ancient Silk Road settlements, stupas and forts in the Taklamakan Desert are shown alongside modern images and video taken on recent British Library expeditions to record the changes of the past century.

Royal Geographical Society
1 Kensington Gore
London, SW7 2AR
MAP

OPEN DAY: CONSERVATION AND IDP STUDIO
12 MARCH 2014
10.00–17.00
FREE ENTRY
(BOOKING REQUIRED)

Archaeologist and scholar, Aurel Stein excavated scores of sites and discovered numerous artefacts including over 40,000 manuscripts and early printed documents in over twenty languages and scripts. The amount and variety of this material poses serious challenges for both conservation and digitisation that curators and conservators at the British Library have been addressing for two decades through international collaboration and under the auspices of IDP. This open day offers a chance to meet the conservation and digitisation teams and to learn about their work on the Stein Silk Road manuscripts.

Foyle Centre and IDP Studio
The British Library
96 Euston Road
London, NW1 2DB
MAP

EXHIBITION: ‘THE DIAMOND SUTRA AND EARLY PRINTING’
FROM MARCH 2014
DAILY
FREE ENTRY

The Dunhuang Diamond Sutra, the world’s earliest, dated, complete printed book, will be on display at the British Library for the first time since a programme of long-term conservation was completed. It will be shown alongside other examples of early printing in Asia.

Sir John Ritblat Gallery
The British Library
96 Euston Road
London, NW1 2DB
MAP

LECTURES AND RECEPTION: ‘SILK ON THE SILK ROAD’
11 APRIL 2014
14.00 – 20.00
£12 (£8 CONCESSIONS)

Over a century of archaeology on the eastern Silk Road has resulted in thousands of textile finds, preserved by the dry desert air. In their variety — of material, dyes, designs and weaves — they demonstrate the richness of cultural and technical exchanges among the peoples of the Silk Road. This afternoon of lectures by scholars, curators and conservators is intended for a general audience, and will introduce the Silk Road and the textiles collections held in London and worldwide. The lecture will be followed by a drinks reception.

Conference Centre
The British Library
96 Euston Road
London, NW1 2DB
MAP

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