克孜爾石窟=Qizil Grottoes; 柏林亞洲藝術博物館=Museum of Asian Art in Berlin; 德國吐魯番考察隊=German Turfan Expedition; 木制品=wooden furniture and objects; 儀式=ritual; 考古=archaeology
The study on the ritual use of the caves in Qizil is a topic that needs more scholarly attention and interdisciplinary collaboration. Archaeology can offer its own unique contribution, and although it cannot reenact or name the rituals taking place in the caves, its ability to interpret the marks left by the people performing those rituals is extremely valuable. This study is based on analysis of the photographs taken during the clearing of the antechamber of Qizil Cave 76 by the German Turfan Expedition, and on Grünwedel’ s article referring to the objects found in it. Further, because several of the unearthed relics are preserved in the Museum of Asian Art in Berlin, carrying out a preliminary examination of the extant material has proven very convenient. By rearranging the wooden furniture and ritual paraphernalia in the main chamber of a large centralpillar cave, researchers have shown that several rituals could viably take place within it.
