Special Programmes for "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Digital Dunhuang – Tales of Heaven and Earth"

Unless otherwise stated, all special programmes are conducted in Cantonese and are free of charge. A separate ticket is required for entry to "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Digital Dunhuang – Tales of Heaven and Earth" Exhibition. For special arrangements under inclement weather conditions, please click here for details. For enquiries, please call 2180 8260. The Museum makes no representations on the content of the programmes. Programmes are subject to change and cancellation without prior notice.

Programme details

Thematic Talk on "Preserving Dunhuang, the Legacy of Mankind"
Co-organised with Centre of Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong

As a hub on the ancient Silk Road, Dunhuang had given birth to Mogao Caves, presently a World Heritage Site. 735 rock-cut caves constructed during the 4th to 14th century have survived to this day, housing over 2,000 painted stucco statues, more than 40,000 square metres of murals as well as over 50,000 manuscripts (from the Library Cave) and works of art, the majority of which are now dispersed overseas. This rich legacy has attested to the exchange and blending of Chinese civilisation with that of India, Greece and Persia.

After its inception in 1944, the Dunhuang Academy has been upholding the 'Mogao spirit' epitomised in the motto of "Overcome adversities in the desert; selfless contribution; dauntless in taking up responsibilities; open up new horizons." Over the past decades, it has constantly widened exchange and collaboration with other institutions at home and abroad, conducted in-depth study of Dunhuang culture and preserved with utmost care this World Cultural Heritage. Generations of Mogao staff have shouldered the three great missions of protecting, studying and promoting the heritage, step by step introducing Dunhuang to the world and also allowing the world to move closer to Dunhuang.

Thematic Talk on "Men Farming in the Yellow Desert: Depiction of Ancient Societal Life on Dunhuang Murals"
Co-organised with Gaudeamus Dunhuang

Mogao Caves at Dunhuang has not only borne witness to Buddhist art, but also faithfully recorded the history of the ancient society. Although the subject matters of Mogao murals are Buddhism-related, we will find many scenes reflecting life in reality if we remove the religious veil. Some people therefore refer to Mogao Caves as "A library painted on the walls". This talk aims at revealing the cultural exchange and various aspects of ancient societal life along the Silk Road, and the rich cultural connotations of ancient society reflected by Mogao murals through the interpretation of some genre scenes depicting peoples' clothing, food, housing and transportation as well as wedding and funeral.

Thematic Talk on "The Art of Mount Wutai in Mogao Cave 61"
Speaker: Dr Zhao Shengliang (Deputy Director of Dunhuang Academy)

This talk introduces the Mount Wutai mural featured in Mogao Cave 61. The mural is of great significant historic and artistic value, portraying the magnificent landscape of Mount Wutai, its legendary sites of divine manifestations and the social life of the time through large numbers of architectural images and human activities depicted on the mural. It is like a traditional Chinese scroll painting with rich portrayal of social life.

Thematic Talk on "The History of Mount Wutai Graphics in Dunhuang"
Speaker: Dr Zhao Xiaoxing (Assistant to Director of Textual Research Institute, Dunhuang Academy)

Mount Wutai is one of the four most famous Buddhist sacred mountains in China. It has been regarded as the earthly abode of Manjusri Bodhisattva since the Tang dynasty. People began creating paintings of Mount Wutai, and the trend was subsequently introduced to Dunhuang. The creation of Mount Wutai images in Dunhuang, mainly in the form of tableau, screen panel and backdrop, had spanned four historical periods. These graphic representations belong to the genre of pilgrimage maps highlighting holy sites associated with divine manifestations, reflecting religious development in Mount Wutai through different historical periods.

A Glimpse of Dunhuang Caves
Co-organised with Friends of Dunhuang (Hong Kong)

The magnificent art of Dunhuang Caves provides a feast for the eyes. The volunteers of Friends of Dunhuang (Hong Kong) will guide the participants on a tour to appreciate and explore in depth the charms of cave art displayed in the galleries.

Thematic Talk on "Understanding Marriage Customs in the Tang Dynasty from Dunhuang Murals and Historical Documents"
Speaker: Ms Lee Mei-yin (Special Researcher of Dunhuang Academy and Vice Chairperson of Friends of Dunhuang (Hong Kong))
Co-organised with Friends of Dunhuang (Hong Kong)

Many scenes depicting social life of ancient times are found among the large numbers of Dunhuang murals and manuscripts. Through murals depicting wedding scenes and manuscripts containing related information, we can have a glimpse of the setting of the wedding venues and the process of the wedding ceremony of the time.

Thematic Talk on "Learning Dunhuang from Modern Music Creation"
Speaker: Professor Chan Wing-wah (Vice-President of Centennial College and Chairman of Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong Limited)
Co-organised with Gaudeamus Dunhuang

Dunhuang music is unique. While Chinese music has continuously developed and evolved over time, the music of our time is often created upon the base of ancient melodies, allowing ancient and contemporary music to coexist. Professor Chan Wing-wah will deliver a talk on the relationship between contemporary music creation and Dunhuang music.

Thematic Talk on "Echoes of the Tang Dynasty: Dunhuang Arts and Tang Dynasty Music and Dance"
Speaker: Dr Zhao Shengliang (Deputy Director of Dunhuang Academy)
Co-organised with Gaudeamus Dunhuang

In the Tang dynasty, temples were common cultural and recreational venues for the general public. Apart from viewing fine paintings, sculptures and calligraphy, visitors to the temples were able to see performances of religious, secular and even court music and dance on occasions of Buddhist-related activities. Dr Zhao Shengliang will deliver a talk on the rich images related to music and dance depicted on Dunhuang murals of the Tang dynasty to share with the audience the history of Chinese music and dance.

Thematic Talk on "Millennium Endurance: Musical Cultural Exchange along the Silk Road through the Study of Dunhuang Murals"
Speaker: Mr Zhang Yuanlin (Department Head of Information Center for Dunhuang Studies, Dunhuang Academy)
Co-organised with Gaudeamus Dunhuang

The Dunhuang murals and the Library Cave have preserved many manuscripts containing graphic records of ancient music, ancient scores and choreographies, which allow us to explore the music cultures of different regions and peoples, and how they were exchanged and integrated along the Silk Road. In this talk, Mr. Zhang Yuanlin will introduce the music-related images on Dunhuang murals, compare the musical instruments with similar ones from other regions along the Silk Road, and explain the dissemination and evolution process of some instruments such as pipa and konghou which are frequently seen on Dunhuang murals. Finally he will illustrate the East-Meets-West multiplicity of Dunhuang music in conjunction with the performance styles of the musicians and the structure of the orchestras as shown on the murals.

"Gaudeamus Dunhuang: the Heavenly Music of Dunhuang" Concert
Co-organised with Gaudeamus Dunhuang

The concert will present seven pieces of music including three famous ones of distinctive Dunhuang style: New Sound of Dunhuang, Caprice of the Western Regions and Kuchean Dance. The last one is taken from Kuchean music, one of the most representative genres of dance music introduced from Central Asia. There are also three newly created pieces combining ancient tunes with new arrangement: Yangguan sandie (Three refrains of Yangguan Pass), Changsha nü yin (Prelude: Lady of Changsha) and Manquzi xinshizi (A confiding slow tune). The last two are based on the pipa scores recorded in Dunhuang manuscripts. The research result of the late master sinologist Prof. Jao Tsung-I's on Dunhuang pipa scores has been consulted to pay tribute to him and to celebrate his great contribution to Dunhuang studies.

Heavenly Music of Dunhuang, the last piece to play in the concert and the theme piece of Gaudeamus Dunhuang, is an imagination of the blissful world depicted on Dunhuang murals, conjuring an ethereal atmosphere with self-sounding musical instruments floating freely in the sky, apsaras shuttling between towering pavilions, musicians playing melodious tunes on terraces and the dancers swaying to the rhythms of beautiful music. The composer hopes to enliven the murals through music so as to offer the audience a virtual experience of the blissful world presented on the murals and to allow them to savour the charm of Dunhuang in depth.

New Experience in Dunhuang Music
Co-organised with Gaudeamus Dunhuang

Dunhuang was an important city on the ancient Silk Road and a vital point in East-West communication. Music-related images recording the development of Chinese music are found on murals in over 200 caves at Dunhuang. This educational event will give an introduction of the music and history of Dunhuang in addition to demonstrating how ancient music can find a way into our time and in what way it can integrate with modern Chinese music. The participants will be able to gain more knowledge and understanding of Dunhuang culture and Chinese music through demonstration by musicians, commentaries of music pieces and interactive games.