Tying Soul In With Dunhuang

Chang Shuhong is a well-known scholar in Dunhuang studies. So long as people mention Dunhuang, they must speak of "guardian spirit" of Dunhuang, Chang Shuhong. In old China, the material condition was extremely hard; besides, the research work was time-wasting, monotonous and tiring. However, in order to preserve and spread the cream of our cultural relics, he devoted himself to the art and his asceticism spirit is worthy of respect in the present times of hedonism. He nearly dedicated all his youth and ideal, love and marriage, relatives and happiness to Dunhuang with an unimaginable will. What is refracted throughout his life-the lofty artistic value, the persevering artistic faith and the noble character, is just what our traditional intellectuals have been pursuing and strictly abiding by for a long time. Mr. Chang is also an artistic theorist. He proposed the novel views of artistic history and artistic values. Thus, we can see, his contribution is not only confined to the preserving research on Dunhuang art, but also lies in his mastery on the mainstream of art on the whole and refining upon artistic ideas in a higher-level. Furthermore, he is an outstanding artist in oil painting with many excellent works. In short, it is impossible for us to isolate his undertakings on Dunhuang with his artistic road and career. What his artistic life leaves us is the deep reflection condensed with history and national strength.