Relevant Research On Yulin Cave 25 In Guazhou

Yulin cave 25 is a representative cave during the time when Dunhuang was ruled by the Tibetan because of its special themes, which causes widespread concern in Dunhuang and the Tibetan scholars and pours into some academic works. Firstly, this article introduces the contents, the shape and structure, and the historical construction background of Yulin cave 25. Secondly, based on the previous studies,this article come up with a new academic viewpoint concerning the owner of Yulin cave 25 which is different from others. This paper argues that the Tibetan inscription“Shangshu” found on the Maitreya Sutra painting in Cave 25 refers to “Shang Jiezan”. Yulin Cave 25 was constructed by a certain member of the Cao family for Shang Jiezan who was appointed as the prime minister and regional commander of the Tibetan East Path. It was built to commemorate and praise Shang Jiezan’s success in enabling the Qingshui Treaty to take place, which greatly improved the relationship between Tang and Tibetan regimes. The time of the construction of Cave 25 should be a few years before or after the Qingshui Treaty, which took place in 783 AD. Yulin cave 25 and Yulin cave 15 are two caves built almost at the same time whose owner is Shangjiezan. As a reflection of the Qingshui Treaty between the Tang Dynasty and the Tibet kept in the Dunhuang Grottoes, the two historical relics will be permanent monuments in the Tang Dynasty and the Tibet history.Lastly, concerning the hot topic about when the marriage picture was drawn in the north wall of Yulin cave 25,This paper put forward a new point of view, holding that when Yulin cave 25 was built, the marriage picture was also finished at the same time in about783. Actually the marriage picture was also a commemoration of the Qingshui Treaty, a reflection of the historical connections through marriages and the friendly relationships between the Tang Dynasty and the Tibet.