Academic Trends
GAI Jiaze
Dunhuang, located in the west of the Hexi Corridor and the east of the ancient Xiyu, serves as a bridge connecting the two regions and is a place overflowing with multicultural and multireligious influences. Many ethnic groups active in ancient inland Asia have once appeared on the stage of Dunhuang. Therefore, compiling A History of Ethnic Minorities in Dunhuang can provide a microcosm of the broader picture, offering insights into the cultural ecology of ancient ethnic groups. Professor Yang dedicates his entire life to the study of Dunhuang studies and ethnology and religious studies in northwest China, emphasizing the elucidation of new materials, new problems, and new methodologies. A History of Ethnic Minorities in Dunhuang is far from being a cliché but rather represents his recent explorations in several fields, including issues related to the Yuezhi, the Shazhou Uyghurs, late-period caves in Dunhuang, and the family of Mogolian Lord Bin and so on. Although these explorations may not be universally accepted by the academic community, they have become unavoidable topics in related fields.