A Study on Honeysuckle Pattern in Yungang Grottoes From the Perspective of Semiotics

Buddhism was introduced to China during the Han Dynasty and took root in China,integrating with local culture.The classic pattern of honeysuckle in Buddhism,as a type of border decoration,was also introduced to China with the eastward advancement of Buddhism.This article aims to conduct a semiotic study on the patterns of honeysuckle patterns in the Yungang Grottoes.Firstly,the concept of honeysuckle patterns was explained,and typical honeysuckle patterns that appeared in the Yungang Grottoes were systematically organized and classified.Then,with the help of semiotic principles,the production of symbols for honeysuckle patterns in the Yungang Grottoes was analyzed from a semiotic perspective.Based on this,the semiotic characteristics of honeysuckle patterns in the Yungang Grottoes and their signifier and referent systems were analyzed in depth.Finally,the shape and connotation of honeysuckle patterns in their evolution and development were summarized.The honeysuckle pattern occupies an important position in the history of traditional patterns in China,so the honeysuckle pattern in Yungang Grottoes,as a decorative theme,not only has important research significance,but its semiotic value is also worth exploring and studying.

Longmen Grottoes

The Longmen Grottoes comprise more than 2,300 caves and niches carved into the steep limestone cliffs. These contain almost 110,000 stone Buddhist statues, more than 60 stupas and 2,800 inscriptions carved on steles. Luoyang was China＇s capital during the late North- ern Wei Dynasty （386-534） and early Tang Dynasty （618 907）, and the most intensive period of carving dates from the end of the fifth century to the mid eighth century.

Overall efficiency of a V-shaped nylon net fence in preventing sand damage to the Mogao Grottoes

A V-shaped nylon net fence installed in 1990 on top of the Mogao Grottoes is shown to be effectively resisting aeolian sand damage to the grottoes. The structure guides and causes deposition of sand from westerly wind （the primary hard wind）, but to some extent hinders the inverse function of easterly wind carrying sand away from the grottoes toward Mount Mingsha. The gobi side by the fence experiences higher wind speed, so that on which are easily formed undercutting pits, and the deposited sands on it generally form double-peak structures due to abundant sand sources. If the earth surface characteristics in gobi areas by both sides of the fence are quite varied, the erosion and deposition features of the accumulating sand section are similar in different seasons; however, if the earth surface characteristics are similar, the features become irregular in different seasons. Sand depositions with long slope feet are formed along the south and north sides of V-shaped nylon net fence. Disrupted by strong westerly wind and northwesterly wind, sand accumulations by north of the fence are in form of single peaks. Although the operation duration of the V-shaped nylon net fence has exceeded its design life （10 years）, our observations indicate that it is still effective in reducing wind-driven sand damages to the Mogao Grottoes, so it should not be withdrawn.

Grottoes Discovered in Tibet

ChinesearchaeologistShavediscoveredZI^sinZandaCOUnty,NgedOfTibet.Scatteredover3,onsquarekilometers,theyaretheremainsOfananciotkingdom.Grottoes Discovered in Tibet...

Architectural Space of Kizil Grottoes Based on the Spirit of Place

As a Buddhist architecture,Kizil Grottoes have important spiritual and cultural value because of its religious spiritual attribute and its growth in a special geographical environment and historical and cultural background.By using the methods of literature collection and field investigation,and taking the place spirit as the theoretical guidance,this paper studies and discusses the architectural layout,spatial form and functional function of different types of caves,and seeks the correlation between architectural material form and consciousness spirit,thereby expounding the place spirit of spatial identity and cultural belonging contained in Buddhist architecture of Kizil Grottoes.

An Exploration of Tourism Translation Strategies from the Perspective of the Skopos Theory—A Case Study of English Introductions of Yungang Grottoes

Skopos Theory emphasizes that the purpose of translation is to allow readers to fully understand the content of the text,which coincides with the purpose of the tourism text.Taking world cultural heritage-Yungang Grottoes as an example,this thesis explores tourism translation strategies from perspective of Skopos Theory.

Implementation of"impression Kizil grottoes"exhibition

Selecting Kizil grottoes as research target, this article discussed a new mode of integration of culture and science. Througha combination of website technologies HTML5 and PHP, ＂impression.Kizil grottoes online exhibition＂ is realized. The main functions include contents show, database connection operation, information publication and layout design, it can satisfy application requirements of dynamic website.

Yungang Grottoes

Yungang Grottoes are hailed as a miracle in Chinese art with time-honored history, large scale, rich contents and superb carvings. The whole Yungang Grottoes is dignified with prominent themes, and can be divided into east, central and west parts, and the niches are densely distributed like a honeycomb.

Concentrations,sources,and influential factors of water-soluble ions of atmospheric particles in Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes,a world heritage site in China

Atmospheric particle pollution is one of the major factors leading to degradation of ancient wall paintings,particularly heritage sites in arid and semi-arid regions.However,current systematic research on the changes,sources,and influential factors of atmospheric particulate matter and its water-soluble ion concentrations is not sufficient.Thus,the major water-soluble ion concentrations,sources,and influential factors of atmospheric particles PM_(2.5) and PM_(10)(particulate matter with an aerodynamic equivalent diameter≤2.5 and 10.0μm,respectively,in ambient air)were collected from Cave 16 and its ambient exterior environment in the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes,China,between April 2015 and March 2016.Results showed that the concentrations of PM_(2.5) and PM_(10) inside and outside the cave were the highest in March 2016 and the lowest in December 2015.The higher particle concentration from March to May was related to the frequent occurrence of sand and dust events,and the lower particle concentration from June to September was associated with good diffusion conditions,increased precipitation,and an established cave shelterbelt.The concentration of particulate matter inside the cave was affected by the concentration of particles in the air outside the cave.Ca2+,NH+4,Na+,Cl-,and SO2-4were the main components of the total ions of PM_(2.5) and PM_(10) both inside and outside the cave.The total ions inside the cave were frequently affected by the disturbance of tourists'activities during the peak tourist season from May to August.Under the influence of dust,the total concentrations of Cl-,SO2-4,Na+,NH+4,and Ca2+in particles of different sizes inside and outside the cave increased,and the concentrations of Cl-,SO2-4,Na+,and Ca2+decreased during precipitation period.Backward air mass trajectory analysis suggested that the pollutants were mainly from Xinjiang,China.The pollutant sources of air particulates are straw burning,secondary pollution sources,soil dust,dry spring rivers,and tourist activities.

Original State of Grotto Eaves of the Daxiang Mountain Grottoes of Gangu County

Located in the east of Gansu Province, Gangu County in Tianshui City is the only way that people went to the Central Plains from the western regions in ancient times, and it's also an important node of the Grotto Culture Corridor of the Silk Road. Daxiang Mountain Giant Buddha Grottoes is the landmark of Gangu County. The giant Buddha statue stands among cliffs 200 meters high above the ground, and it is the second largest stone-base clay-sculpture Buddha in China. After going through thousands of years, the Giant Buddha Grottoes needs effective and scientific protection. This article was originated from the actual project—The Research on the Construction Technology of Wooden-structure Grotto Eaves in the Daxiang Mountain. This article f inished the rebuilding plan for the Buddha Grotto Eaves on the basis of analyzing historical documents, hole traces, morphological evolution and image demonstration.

A Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation Embodied in the Musical Dance Art of Early Dunhuang Grottoes

The musical dance art recorded in early Dunhuang Grottoes,though supposed to be created by ancient northern ethnic groups such as the Hun and Xianbei,gives expression to a strong thought of"Chinafication"and a sense of community for the Chinese nation.By analyzing the essence and content of the musical dance art in the Dunhuang Grottoes created during the Northern Liang(A.D.397-460),Northern Wei(A.D.386-534),Western Wei(A.D.535-556)and Northern Zhou(A.D.557-581)Dynasties,and by exploring the contribution of ancient ethnic groups such as the Hun and Xianbei in the formation and development of Chinese nation,this study reveals that the musical dance art in early Dunhuang Grottoes faithfully reflects the community pattern of the Chinese nation featured by"unity in diversity"developed since ancient times,and hopes that the future research and creation may expand their horizon by incorporating the musical dance art of early Dunhuang Grottoes into the system of contemporary Dunhuang dance.

Sand drift encroachment in the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes District and its control

Analysis on sand drift damages to the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes showed that the actual sand drift hazards in the area are mainly attributed to the gobi wind-sand stream formed by sand coming from the Mingsha Mountain (megadune), while the migration of the megadune and its frontal edge dunes is actually not a major threat to the grottoes. The gobi belt on the cliff top of the Mogao Grottoes is not only a natural sand transport field but also a natural protective screen which prevents the megadune and its frontal edge dunes from advancing towards the grottoes or burying the grottoes. Therefore efforts to protect the Mogao Grottoes should be focussed on halting the gobi wind-sand stream rather than on checking the migration of sand dunes. For this reason, effective sand blockade and stabilization measures should be adopted at the frontal edge of the megadune but no sand retarding works are allowed to be set up in the gobi belt so as to avoid sand accumulation and entering the grottoes.

丝绸之路图像记忆——敦煌石窟朝鲜半岛人物形象阐释

前言敦煌石窟是'形象的历史'~1,敦煌壁画、彩塑、藏经洞绢纸绘画等图像资料是丝绸之路历史、文化、宗教、艺术交流的产物,是研究中古时期历史文明交融互动不可多得的珍贵史料。其中保存于唐五代宋洞窟壁画中的朝鲜半岛人物形象,是中古时期以图像形式保存下来的重要资料,值得作专题的研究。

陕西富县石泓寺中小洞窟调查及相关问题探析

石泓寺石窟位于陕西省富县直罗镇韩村村东(图1),北纬35°53′50.8″、东经108°52′47.2″、海拔1068米(7号窟窟口外台阶上测得)。该石窟群分布在东西向长约80米,高约10米的自然崖壁上,坐北面南,共由10窟组成(图2),由左向右依次编为1—10号窟1。石窟所在的山体为红砂砾石岩,岩质松软,较易风化。在石窟南约100米处小河子川汇入葫芦河。

敦煌莫高窟五百强盗成佛故事画再研究

五百强盗成佛图是敦煌石窟中有名的佛教故事画题材之一,又被称为“得眼林”,共存有两幅,分别位于莫高窟西魏第285窟南壁和北周第296窟南壁,具有很高的史料和艺术价值。第285窟位于洞窟崖面南区中段第二层,规模中等,坐西向东,主室呈方形,覆斗形顶,是莫高窟最早有纪年的洞窟。五百强盗成佛图位于南壁偏上部分,从东向西,依次排开,画面恢宏,情节紧凑,是莫高窟西魏时期最大的一幅故事画,也是莫高窟最早的因缘故事画。

A hypothesis for crack free interior surfaces of Longyou caverns caved in argillaceous siltstone 2000 years ago

Five complete caverns were discovered in Longyou in 1992.They were manually caved in argillaceous siltstone at shallow depths more than 2000 years ago.When they were un-watered,their integrity was maintained completely,and their interior rock surfaces were free of old cracks.Since then,however,the rock's interior faces have initiated and propagated more and more cracks.This paper attempts to address the question of why the rock interior faces were free of old cracks once they were unearthed.To address this question,this paper proposes a hypothesis that the argillaceous siltstone has the ability of self-healing its cracks over a short period of time under weak acid water environment.Data and evidence are presented herewith to prove the hypothesis.They include observations and measurements in the field and test results in the laboratory.Specifically,a three-point bending test is used to form a tensile crack in a rectangular rock specimen and a deadload test for the specimen immersed in initially weak acid water is used for self-healing its crack.The results have shown that the argillaceous siltstone is in a state of weak alkalinity and the rain water at the site is in a state of weak acidity.Therefore,when it is immersed in weak acid water for some time,the argillaceous siltstone would be able to make chemical reactions to generate new minerals such as calcite.The new minerals would be able to infill the cracks and then heal the crack within a few years.Once the crack is self-healed,the rock can regain its strength and integrity.Consequently,the rock interior surfaces could be free of old cracks when the water was pumped out of the caverns.

Grotto Heritage Highlight

Chinese-Japanese scientists make conservation breakthrough on 1,500-year-old Buddhist caves After eight years of hard work, the conservation and restoration project at the Kumtura Thousand Buddha Caves in