A Study On The Famous Families And Buddhism In Dunhuang

In Ancient times, Dunhuang was in the west of HeXi Corridor in Gansu, Which was an oasis. Dunhuang was the connecting of the Central Plains and the Western Regions. Dunhuang had become an opened and closed society since Emperor Wu in Xihan Dynasty exploited Hexi and set up the Dunhuang County.Dunhuang was in the special times from the Han to the Song Dynasties, Which showed its most obvious character in all parts of aspects. Many famous families which came from Central Plains entered Dunhuang as Emperor Wu in Xihan Dynasty empoldered the Hexi area, in order to open up border areas, to go on an expedition, to evade the calamity, and so on. They became famous families gradually of Dunhuang by rendering meritorious service in the Western Region and being good at Confucianism from generation to generation. Nearly at the same time, Buddhism also spread to Dunhuang. Henceforth, The famous families of Dunhuang and Buddhism had the indissoluble bond. There was a close relationship between the famous families of Dunhuang and Buddhism from the Han to Song Dynasties.The famous families of Dunhuang and Buddhism's relationship experienced a process from the Han to Song dynasties. The famous families contacted Buddhism initially at first, believed Buddhism widespreadly later, believed Buddhism prosperously and had the utility orientation at last. The famous families just contacted the newly spread Buddhism in Dunhuang between the Han and Jin dynasties, but they had not believed widely Buddhism at that time. Dunhuang famous families'belief had changed from revering Confucianism only to being good at Confucian and Buddhism in both in the Five Liang periods. They copied sutra and believed Buddhism widely. Dunhuang famous families believed Buddhism very much in the Northern Dynasties. They copied the massive Buddhist literature. They also participated in constructing the Mogao Grottoes at early time, but the quantity of famous families'Grottoes was still quite small. Dunhuang famous families'belief in Buddhism was prosperous in Sui and Tang dynasties. The massive famous families'Grottoes were built in Mogao Grottoes, which had started the high tide of building Mogao Grottoes. Dunhuang famous families believed Buddhism even more in the Turfan period. The Buddhism temples became the places which Dunhuang famous families sought. The Zhang and Cao families which were the head of Dunhuang famous families respected and believed in Buddhism especially Gui-Yijun period. All kinds of Buddhist activities were held frequently. The family grottoes were constructed prosperously. All of these promoted Buddhism's development into a new high tide. At the same time, the goal of famous families believing Buddhism was more realistic and utilitarian.Dunhuang famous families believed Buddhism devotionally from the Han to Northern Dynasties. They believed Buddhism even more secular and utilitarian between the Tang and Song Dynasties. Buddhism developed unceasingly when the famous families believed in Buddhism in Dunhuang. Buddhism had experienced from the preliminary foothold to the considerable development and the prosperous development. Buddhism had completed the Chinese process. Therefore, Dunhuang becomes one holy land of Buddhism at last.From the Han to Song dynasties, Dunhuang famous families' culture experienced from reverenceing confucianism exclusively to being well-versed in Confucianism and Buddhism, to the prosperous process of believing Buddhism. No matter how, famous families' guiding ideology was the Confucianist culture primarily and throughoutly in Dunhuang.