[ACM CONVERSATIONS] Silk Road Exchange in the Ceiling Murals of Mogao Cave 249

Museum Directors in Conversation Silk Road Exchange in the Ceiling Murals of Mogao Cave 249 馆长对谈: 从莫高窟第249窟窟顶壁画看丝绸之路上的文化交融 Friday, 25 September 2026, 12–1pm Ngee Ann Auditorium, Asian Civilisations Museum 2026年9月25日（星期五），中午12点至下午1点 亚洲文明博物馆，义安礼堂 THIS TALK IS FREE. Registration (with a $10 refundable deposit) required. 入场免费，请报名参与 （10新元押金将于出席后退还） To celebrate the opening of Sacred Caves: Dunhuang, Buddhism, and the Silk Road, join us for a special lunchtime talk with Dr Zhang Yuanlin, deputy director of the Dunhuang Academy. Focusing on the ceiling murals in Mogao Cave 249, Zhang explores how artistic traditions from across the Silk Road came together in a striking vision of the cosmos. He considers winged spirits guarding the cintamani (wish-fulfilling jewel) and their connections to sun worship, the West Asian architecture of a painted celestial palace, representations of the wind god across different cultures, and a hunting scene associated with Chinese and Persian royal authority. Following his presentation, Zhang will be joined by ACM director Clement Onn for a conversation and audience Q&A. This talk will be conducted in Mandarin with simultaneous interpretation in English. Light refreshments will be served at the basement foyer from 11am. 为庆祝亚洲文明博物馆特别展览《敦煌：佛教艺术与丝绸之路》的开幕，诚邀您参加一场特别午间讲座，主讲嘉宾为敦煌研究院副院长张元林博士。讲座聚焦于莫高窟第249窟的窟顶壁画，探讨丝绸之路上各文化之间的交流互动。这些壁画呈现了一幅融合中国神话、佛教思想与异域元素的壮阔宇宙图景。内容涵盖守护摩尼宝珠（如意宝珠）的有翼天神与太阳崇拜、天宫城墙上所呈现的西亚建筑风格、风神图像的跨地域传播，以及狩猎图与中国及波斯皇权象征之间的关联。 演讲结束后，张博士将与亚洲文明博物馆馆长温俊玉进行对谈，并回答观众提问。 讲座将以华语进行， 并提供英语同声传译。 早上十一点起将备有茶点。 About the speaker 讲者介绍 Zhang Yuanlin is deputy director and research curator at the Dunhuang Academy. He is also Chair Professor at Lanzhou University Cuiying Honors College and President of the Gansu Dunhuang Studies Society. His research focuses on Buddhist art and cultural exchange along the Silk Road. He has published extensively on Dunhuang art, including The Complete Classified Collection of Chinese Murals: Dunhuang Murals (Western Wei volume), A Study of Lotus Sutra Iconography at Dunhuang during the Northern Dynasties and Sui Period, and A Study of Lotus Sutra Iconography at Dunhuang from the Tang to Yuan Dynasties. 张元林是中国敦煌研究院研究馆员、副院长，兼任兰州大学萃英讲席教授及甘肃敦煌学会会长。其研究方向主要为佛教图像学及丝绸之路文化比较研究。张元林已发表多部敦煌艺术相关著作，包括《中国壁画分类全集·敦煌壁画·西魏卷》、《北朝—隋时期敦煌法华图像研究》及《唐至元代敦煌法华图像研究》。 Clement Onn is director of the Asian Civilisations Museum and the Peranakan Museum. His research focuses on cross-cultural exchanges between Asia and Europe in the 16th to 18th centuries, with an emphasis on trading networks and the spread of Christianity across Asia. He has curated major exhibitions such as Christianity in Asia: Sacred Art and Visual Splendour and Manila Galleon: From Asia to the Americas, advancing the museums’ mission to deepen understanding of Asia’s cross-cultural histories and their relevance to Singapore’s multicultural society. 温俊玉是新加坡亚洲文明博物馆和土生文化馆的馆长。 他的研究专注于16至18世纪亚洲与欧洲之间的跨文化交流，尤其关注贸易网络及基督教在亚洲的传播。他曾策划多项重要展览，包括《圣辉艺彩：亚洲的基督教信仰与艺术交汇》及《马尼拉大帆船：从亚洲到美洲》，致力推动博物馆深化公众对亚洲跨文化历史的认识，以及这段历史与新加坡多元文化社会的关联。 Held in conjunction with Image: Model of Cave 249. Image courtesy of the Dunhuang Academy. 莫高窟第249窟模型，现展于亚洲文明博物馆。图片均由敦煌研究院提供 FAQ Before registering, please read the following: 1. Why is there a refundable deposit of $10? The deposit ensures that all registered participants attend. The deposit refund will be processed in Peatix within 24-hours after the event. Depending on your bank, card company and payment method, it can take between 5 ~ 30 business days before the refund is reflected on your card statement. Please write to us on Peatix or email us at [email protected] 24 hours before the event start time if you need to cancel your ticket. Late cancellations and no-shows will be subject to the $10 fee. 2. Do I need to register at the event? Yes, you will need to sign in at the registration desk to receive the refund. 3. Where is the meeting point and what time should I be there? The meeting point is the Ngee Ann Auditorium on the basement level of the Asian Civilisations Museum. Please arrive at least 10 minutes before the talk for registration. The talk begins at 12pm. Light refreshments will be served from 11am onwards at the basement foyer. 4. Further enquiries We’d be happy to answer them for you! Drop us a note via Peatix or email us at [email protected].