Sixteen States Period Of Dunhuang Manuscripts Calligraphy Preliminary

By setting the Buddhist scriptures manuscripts calligraphy of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoesof the Sixteen Kingdoms Period (the mid-fourth century) in the specific social and historicalbackground, this paper is in an effort to do a comprehensive investigation as well as anin-depth research in the handwriting of scriptures manuscripts through textual research andcomparative research and to present the overall features and the development of the scripturemanuscripts calligraphy during the Period on the basis of careful analysis and study of therelated literature or records and cultural remains. The paper consists of four parts as follows.The first part mainly introduces the general situation of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, and theBuddhism development in Hexi Area at the time; the second part primarily elaborates thediscovery and collection of the literature or records related to Dunhuang scripturesmanuscripts as well as their dissemination and loss; from the study of the manuscripts withclear chronological dates, unclear chronological dates and the remained pieces of manuscripts,the third part thoroughly analyzes the chirography, the penmanship and the way of usingwriting brushes in the manuscripts handwriting during the Period, generalizing that earlyofficial-regular script and late regular-official script are the characteristics of the manuscriptscalligraphy at that time; taking above mentioned research with the topics related to Buddhismdevelopment, national integration and the degree of assimilation of Hu nationality by Hannationality in Hexi Area at that time, the fourth part demonstrates what influence the style ofthe manuscripts chirography on earth, so as to reveal the complexity and variability of itsdevelopment and evolution.