Renowned German Sinologist Martin Woesler recently experienced a profound cultural awakening during his first visit to Dunhuang, the legendary Silk Road hub in China’s Gansu province. The veteran scholar, with over three decades of Chinese literary study, found himself unexpectedly moved when standing before the Mogao Grottoes’ Cave 285 – a stunning fusion of Greek, Chinese, Indian and Daoist artistic traditions. “Few places have such deep cultural influence in the world,” remarked Woesler, describing the ancient oasis city as a timeless testament to cross-cultural harmony.
Woesler’s journey to northwest China for the Fourth Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations revealed new dimensions in his understanding of cultural transmission. The Mogao frescoes, blending mythological figures from Apollo to flying apsaras, crystallized what he calls “Dunhuang’s spirit of inclusiveness” – a quality he believes remains vitally relevant today. This encounter has reinvigorated his mission to bridge civilizations through literary translation, while sparking fresh ideas about leveraging digital technologies to share cultural heritage globally.
The visit marks a new chapter in Woesler’s 38-year engagement with Chinese culture that began with a transformative encounter with Chinese poetry in his German hometown. As founder of a translation workshop cultivating young German Sinologists, he sees Dunhuang’s legacy as both inspiration and blueprint for contemporary cultural exchange. “Only by working together can we realize mutual benefit,” Woesler emphasized, advocating for open-minded engagement with difference in our increasingly digital world.
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