| Title |
Representations of the equine harness in the cave paintings of Chienfotong [??? / Qian Fo Dong], Tunhuang [?? / Dun Huang], Gansu, China |
| Reference |
SCC2/101/2 |
| Covering Dates |
1943–1992 |
| Extent and Medium |
Paper |
|
| Content and context |
Joseph Needham visited the caves at Chienfotung [??? / Qian Fo Dong] first in 1943 and again in 1958. |
| Needham/NRI2/SCC2/101/2 contains: |
|
1
|
Letter from Rewi Alley at the Shandan Bailie School, Gansu, China, about a Joseph Needham request for reproductions of images of the equine harness from the caves and other matters,. Other matters discussed include a visit to Tunhuang by Dr. Phei Wen-Chung, discoverer of Peking man; visit by the British Ambassador and Hung-Ying Bryan; the problem of providing food and clothing for the 520 people dependant on the school. The documents also include a painting by Ho I [?? / He Yi], one of Alley's pupils.
Creator: Alley, Rewi.
2 sheets; Paper. |
30 June 1948–2 July 1948 |
|
2
|
Painting of a harnessed stag copied from Cave 61 at Tunhuang [?? / Dun Huang]. This painting was probably by Ho I [?? / He Yi], a pupil of Rewi Alley. See SCC2/101/2/2.
1 document; Paper. |
1948–1950 |
|
3
|
Letter from Yung-Ying Bryan of The British Council, about a visit to Rewi Alley's school inTunhuang [?? / Dun Huang] and other matters. Other matters discussed include copies of Joseph Needham's 'biographies'; the beginning of 'Science and Civilisation in China'; the International civil service. . The documents also include a painting of a horse and cart with collar-harness copied from Cave P/135. This painting was probably by Ho I [?? / He Yi], a pupil of Rewi Alley. See SCC2/101/2/2.
Creator: Bryan, Hung-Ying.
2 sheets; Paper. |
20 July 1948 |
|
4
|
Letter from Ida Pruitt of Indusco Inc., American Committee in Aid of Chinese Industrial Cooperatives, forwarding a painting of a horse and cart with collar-harness copied from a cave painting. Pruitt explains that Rewi Alley asked her to forward the painting. She also discusses funding for the Shandan Baillie School. The painting is by Ho I [?? / He Yi], a pupil of Rewi Alley. See SCC2/101/2/2.
Creator: Pruitt, Ida.
2 sheets; Paper. |
27 Sep. 1948 |
|
5
|
Painting of a horse and cart with harness copied from a cave painting at Tunhuang [?? / Dun Huang]. The painting has a note on the reverse from Rewi Alley [?] asking someone to forward the painting to Joseph Needham.
Creator: Alley, Rewi.
1 document; Paper. |
1948 |
|
6
|
Postcard from [?] showing a Tunhuang [?? / Dun Huang] fresco.
1 document; Paper. |
27 Dec. 1958 |
|
7
|
Copy of a letter from Joseph Needham to Chhang Shu-Hung [??? / Chang Shuhong] expressing thanks for hospitality during the visit to Tunhuang [?? / Dun Huang] and related matters, and draft of same. Needham explains his belief that the paintings of carriages and carts on the cave walls will contribute to understanding the story of the development of the efficient equine harness. He asks Chhang to 'let me have some photographs of the essential pictorial evidence' and then lists images he requires.
9 sheets; Paper. |
20 July 1958 |
|
8
|
Photograph from a Sung dynasty painting in Cave 61, showing and ox and cart ploughing, using a harness, and attached notes.
2 pieces; Photograph and paper. |
1958–1960 |
|
9
|
Photograph from a Northern Wei painting in Cave 290, showing a bullock-cart, and attached notes.
2 pieces; Photograph and paper. |
1958–1960 |
|
10
|
Envelope containing copies of four photographs by Joseph Needham showing horse harnesses, taken in 1958.
5 pieces; Photograph and paper. |
1958 |
|
11
|
Joseph Needham notes on the collar harness invention made after his visit to Chienfotong [??? / Qian Fo Dong] in 1958.
6 sheets; Paper. |
17 July 1958 |
|
12
|
Joseph Needham's notes of references to the harness in his 'China 1958 Tour Notes'.
1 document; Paper. |
1958 |
|
13
|
Joseph Needham table listing different representations of the harness at Chienfotong [??? / Qian Fo Dong] and corresponding references. The table gives the cave number; description of the image; reference to related photographs by Chhang Shu-Hung [??? / Chang Shuhong] and Rewi Alley; page number in Needham's notebook; references to documentation in other works.
1 document; Paper. |
1958–1960 |
|
14
|
Copy of an article by Frances Wood entitled 'The Dunhuang Manuscripts Project; Reaping the rewards'. It is unclear where the article was published.
1 document; Paper. |
1992 |
|
15
|
Photographs of the equine harness as represented in the cave paintings of Chienfotong [??? / Qian Fo Dong]. Some of the paintings appear in 'Science and Civilisation in China and in Joseph Needham's paper, 'Efficient equine harness: the Chinese inventions'. They comprise one envelope of photographs labelled 'Tunhuang Research Institute prints 1959'; lose photographs with annotations on reverse.
33 pieces; Photograph and paper. |
1958–1959 |
|
16
|
Related bibliographical references, notes and sketches.
10 sheets; Paper. |
1950–1969 |
|
17
|
Joseph Needham's original file title.
1 document; Paper. |
1943–1958 |
![[Home]](/images/logo.gif){kind=logo}
