Digital Archives of Buddhist Cultural Heritage on the Eastern Silk Road: Status and Utilization in Dunhuang, Turfan, and Kucha

The advancement of digital humanities in the 21st century has significantly enhanced the importance of digital archives in Buddhist art research. The digitization of the extensive and geographically diverse Buddhist cultural heritage along the eastern Silk Road has greatly improved the efficiency and accessibility of scholarly research. This paper examines seminal digital archives initiatives pertaining to the region's Buddhist legacy.Notable examples analyzed in this study include the International Dunhuang Project (IDP); the Database of Medieval Chinese Texts, a collaborative effort between Belgium's Ghent University Centre for Buddhist Studies and Taiwan's Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies; the Digital Silk Road projects at Japan's Tōyō Bunko and Ryukoku University; the Dunhuang Academy's Dunhuang Documents Database and Digital Dunhuang platform; and Germany's Turfan Archive and Buddhist Murals of Kucha Archive. These digital archives offer access to high-resolution images and rare materials, encompassing Buddhist scriptures, Dunhuang manuscripts, paintings, and sculptures.These digital archives are crucial for art historical research, contributing to the understanding of original contexts, meanings, and religious functions through the virtual reunification of dispersed artworks. Moreover, these digital archives transcend time and space constraints, facilitating comprehensive research, aiding in cultural heritage preservation, and increasing public accessibility. As these digital repositories continue to expand and interconnect, they are poised to deepen our understanding of Silk Road Buddhist art, paving the way for innovative research approaches and promoting international scholarly cooperation.