A Study On An Family Of Dunhuang During The Tang And Five Dynasties

An Family entered China in the Han Dynasty and lived in the Dunhuang area at the latest during the Northern Wei Dynasty.In the early Tang Dynasty,An Family mainly lived in Conghua Township.After Tibetan conquered Dunhuang,An Family mainly lived in the Simian tribe and Xingren tribe.During Gui-Yijun period,the distribution of An Family was more widely.They were distributed in various townships of Dunhuang,such as Dunhuang Township,Shensha Township,Longle Township,Pingkang Township,Hongrun Township,Hongchi Township,Cihui Township,Chixin Township,Mogao Township and Tongjia Township.There was also the existence of Anjiazhuang during this period,and An Family participated in the activities of the Social Welfare Department and was active in it.An Family was not only married to the famous family such as Zhang and Suo,but also had had in-laws with other Dunhuang's famous families such as Yin and Wang.Through this marriage,An Family and Dunhuang famous families formed a solid social network,which consolidated and promoted its position and laid a solid foundation for its political status.During the Tibetan Occupation in Dunhuang,An Family followed the call of the Tibetan rulers,took the post of Tibetan one after another and gradually became the Dunhuang famous family.During Gui-Yijun period,An Family made outstanding contributions to the establishment and consolidation of the government of Gui-Yijun.Many members of An Family were filled with the regime of Tibetan and Gui-Yijun,were in the upper ranks of the political power,and they served as senior officials of the governor and the deputy minister.In addition,they also served as officials in the heads,squatters,terracotta warriors,coaches,ten generals,team leaders,and county magistrates.The forces of An family in the monk community couldn't be underestimated.During this period,many members of the An Family entered Buddhism and became monks,some of whom held high posts.There were senior monks like Professor An,as well as laws,senior officials,elders,ministers temple masters and so on.The existence of a large number of monks has already indicated that An Family has animportant position in the realm,which coincides with the status of An Family in the secular society,where they developed together.In addition,An Family also actively participated in the activities of copying scriptures,giving money and building Buddhist caves.Cave 129 of Mogao Grottoes is the cave of An family.On one hand,these activities of An Family had accumulated merits and promoted the development of Dunhuang Buddhism.On the other hand,they have enhanced their influence in the Buddhist order.