I’ve been in Dunhuang for 57 years since I was an intern
I’ve never said any grandiloquence
Like I’m determined to devote my life to Dunhuang
But now if I think carefully
I’ve been living a full life
The one and only cultural heritage in the world
We did something for it
The Daughter of Dunhuang Fan Jinshi
In 1972, the UNESCO adopted a convention
Which was the Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage
And the Mogao Caves were among the first
Mogao caves were carved by two monks at the beginning
Later prominent families, royal families and ordinary folks
Continued to carve here
The work didn’t stop until the 14th century
It lasted for a thousand years
The caves are divided into the southern area and the northern area
The southern area, with 492 caves, is the place of worshipping the Buddha
The northern area is where the monks practice and live
There’re 243 caves in the northern area and 753 caves in total
The first time I went to Dunhuang was in 1962 as an intern
It was really enchanting and shocking to look inside the caves
It was like we were in the heaven
I was indeed attracted by some caves and forgot to leave
But when you went out of the caves into the real life, things were totally different
There was no electricity and no drinking water
Some predecessors lived in mud huts
Slept in mud beds and used mud tables and chairs
Earth and dust were everywhere
How could they stay there
I couldn’t understand then
I would leave because I thought I had seen this place
Surprisingly I was assigned there the next year
I slowly got familiar with it and thus stayed
And I started to work on the protection of Mogao caves
Restoring murals and studying materials
Mogao caves have a history of 1653 years by now
It’s old and extremely vulnerable
Bit by bit. We can’t repair too much one day. We restore and save it
And we create scientific archives
Digital archives for every cave
The colors can be totally the same with those in the caves
We’re able to achieve non-distortion, non-discoloring and high fidelity
We’ve also made the digital film
Audience comment that they see clearer through the film than in the caves
We got married in 1967 and lived separately for 19 years
Now when I think of it
I often say I’m not a good wife
I’m not good at housekeeping
And I’m not a good mother
I didn’t help with our child’s learning
Without old Peng, our family wouldn’t be so peaceful
I live in a simple way and eat in a simple way
I don’t dress myself up
A lot of females use skin-care products. I don’t
Only in winter when it’s very dry
I would apply some Vaseline and water to protect them from chapping
Now what I’m most regretful about is that
I want to read more Buddhist sutras and professional books
I wish for some additional nutrition
I work on the protection of Mogao caves and archeology
It’s my fate
The so-called Mogao Spirit isn’t about me but my predecessors
They didn’t leave and the work became part of their life
Now it’s the same with me. It has become part of my life
The baton is passed from one to another
I’m just one of the players
I hope young people continue to contribute to it