再论敦煌壁画中的吐蕃建筑图像OACSSCI

The mid-Tang period(781-848 CE)in the artistic chronology of Dunhuang murals coincides with the rule of the Tibetan Empire(618-842 CE)over the region.The Tibetan Empire established marital alliances with the Licchavis of Nepal(c.450-750 CE)and the Tang Empire(618-907 CE),absorbing cultures from both—including architectural traditions.The imported architectural styles subsequently integrated with indigenous Tibetan culture and were disseminated by the Ti-betans across their territories,with Dunhuang being one such region.Tibetan monks once resided in Dunhuang to translate sutras and compose com-mentaries,depicting the iconic architectural styles during the prosperous age of the Tibetan Empire in the cave murals.A thousand years later,traces of such Tibetan architecture have largely vanished from this region,and archaeological remains alone cannot make up for the absence of above-ground remnants.Yet the architectural depictions of the Tibetan Empire in Dunhuang murals—such as the curved columns and squared rafters of Jokhang Temple,the glazed tile roofs of Ramoche Temple,the leaf-shaped bracket sets of Samye Monas-tery,the decorations in Wuxiangduo Temple,and the integration of Tibetan and Han architectural elements—serve as evidence that these architec-tural features actually existed.These architectural depictions enrich the historical evidence of China's ethnic architecture and provide references for con-temporary architects when designing buildings with ethnic characteristics.