常书鸿先生是我国著名的敦煌学前辈专家,他在敦煌事业之外,更把目光投射到中国的大西部,即古代的西域、今天的新疆的石窟艺术,这更是难能可贵。这不仅说明常老的眼光远大,更说明常老治学上的追根究底的探求精神。从中国石窟艺术的发展历程来说,敦煌与新疆是不可分割的,新疆的石窟是敦煌石窟的先驱。所以研究敦煌而上溯到新疆石窟,这是十分自然、顺理成章的事情。我自1986年以来,连续去新疆作丝绸之 Mr. Chang Shuhong, a famous scholar of Dunhuang studies in our country, who is more than Dunhuang’s career, cast his eyes on the vast western part of China, namely, the ancient Western Regions and today’s Xinjiang Grottoes artistry. It is even more commendable. This not only shows the lofty vision of Changlao, but also shows the search spirit of Changlao. From the development history of Chinese grotto art, Dunhuang and Xinjiang are inseparable, and Xinjiang’s grottoes are the pioneers of the Dunhuang Grottoes. Therefore, studying Dunhuang and dating back to the Xinjiang Grottoes, this is a very natural, logical thing. Since 1986, I have been going to Xinjiang for silk