Dunhuang art followed the traditional gene of Buddhist thoughts in ancient India and underwent the rapid development of Sinicization, reorganization and innovation during the process of introduction and assimilation of Buddhism. Over more than 1000 years from the second year of Jianyuan(366) in the Former Qin when construction of the caves began to the Yuan dynasty(1368) when construction stopped, Dunhuang art had been a huge engine that pushed forward world Buddhist art. The discovery of the Library Cave in 1900 gave birth to Dunhuangology, while the founding of Dunhuang Art Research Institute(today’s Dunhuang Academy) 75 years ago gave a new life to Dunhuang art. A comprehensive survey of the origin and connotation of Dunhuang art as well as its impact indicates the cultural inheritance and cultural force of Dunhuang art.
