We may have seen many news images about Dunhuang, but recently this scene—when the two “Daughters of Dunhuang”, 92-year-old Chang Shana and 85-year-old Fan Jinshi, reunited in Dunhuang, holding hands tightly while standing together, seemed to be the most touching image. They promised, “Let’s meet again next time, take care,” which is quite moving.
Separated as poetry, each devoted their youth and efforts to their beloved careers, and together they created a picture, making Dunhuang shine anew today thanks to their contributions. They stand firm, giving us enduring warmth, a calming gaze upwards, and an inexhaustible energy.
Before parting, Chang Shana leaned close to Fan Jinshi’s ear and said, “C’est la vie, this is life.”
Indeed, choosing one thing in a lifetime and dedicating one’s youth to it is the essence of a beautiful life, isn’t it?
01
Chang Shana
92-year-old Chang Shana carries many labels:“Forever Dunhuang Girl”“Lifetime Achievement Artist”“Guardian of Dunhuang” Chang Shuhong’s daughterArchitectural decoration designer of the Great Hall of the PeopleLongest-serving president of the Central Academy of Craft ArtStudent of Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyin at their bedsideThose who know her understand thather favorite topic always revolves around “Dunhuang”.
Illustration | Chang Shana with her parents
Born in 1931 in Lyon, France,her father Chang Shuhong commemorated her birth with the local Rhône River,giving her the homophonic name “Shana”.Chang Shana said, “Coincidentally,my father later spent his life in desert areas,and people said his daughter was already called ‘Shana’,like a graceful flower in the desert.”Her father, Chang Shuhong,was later praised as the “Guardian of Dunhuang”,and it was once predicted thatas long as Chang Shuhong stayed in Paris and continued to paint,he would definitely become a world-class painter.However, the call of Dunhuang made Chang Shuhongignore the prospect of fame, the ravages of war, and the separation from his family.In 1944, risking the relentless bombardment,Chang Shana followed her father into the vast desert,entering the Dunhuang caves that would bind her for life.For their first meal, they used chopsticks made from branches just broken from the red willow trees by the riverbank,eating noodles mixed with salt and vinegar.
Illustration | Chang Shana with her father
Chang Shana once asked her father, “What is the purpose of this hardship?”Chang Shuhong replied calmly:
“To protect these treasures that have slept for over a thousand years on the desolate Gobi, preventing the tragedy of plunder by Stein from England, Boucher from France, Warner from America, Tachibana from Japan, and Odenburg from Russia from repeating in Mogao Caves.”
Inspired by her father,Chang Shana eagerly climbed the centipede ladder every day,entering the caves to copy the murals.She said, “My basic skills, my childhood skills,were formed in Dunhuang.”On the brightly colored beam and column patterns of the cave eaves built in the Five Dynasties,the interlocking horse patterns on the Sui Dynasty cave ceiling,the clothing patterns of figures outlined like silkworms spinning in Gu Kaizhi’s works,the flying heavens of the Tang Dynasty like Wu Daozi’s works,the brilliant colors like Li Sixun’s works……Surrounded by solemn Buddha statues, pure lotus flowers, and ethereal flying deities,she immersed herself in it, painting with great devotion.
To promote the importance of protecting and researching the Dunhuang caves,Chang Shuhong held an exhibitionfeaturing the copying of Dunhuang murals,when Chang Shana was only 15 years old.By chance, Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyingreatly appreciated Chang Shana,and Lin Huiyin invited her to assist in the Department of Architecture at Tsinghua University,thus beginning Chang Shana’s journey in arts and crafts design.She carries the artistic lineage of Dunhuang,and the artistic essence of Dunhuang patterns,after considering materials and functionality,was applied by Chang Shana in the decoration design of well-known buildings such as the Great Hall of the People,the National Cultural Palace,and the Capital Airport,as well as the first silk scarf national gift of New Chinaand the large sculpture celebrating Hong Kong’s return,“The Forever Blooming Bauhinia”.
Illustration | Ceiling lighting design of the Great Hall of the People
She has never forgotten where she belongs,and her father’s reminders often echo in her ears:“Shana, do not forget that you are a ‘Dunhuang person’,and you should also permeate Dunhuang’s essence.”She knows that for her entire life,she will always be the daughter of Dunhuang.
To this day, when Chang Shana sees her past copying works in albums and art museums,she still feels a “thump in her heart”, she clearly remembers,that scene was as beautiful as a dream,when she got excited while painting, she would sing loudly in the cave:“Outside the long pavilion, by the ancient road, the fragrant grass stretches to the sky…” 
02
Fan Jinshi
The wheels of fate began to turn,when Fan Jinshi was interning after graduating from university.In 1962, Fan Jinshi, a major in archaeology at Peking University,was selected to go to Dunhuang for archaeological excavation.
Illustration | Intern Fan Jinshi (center)
In her imagination, the Dunhuang Research Instituteshould be a place full of artistic atmosphere.However, as soon as she got off the bus, she was stunned,with flying sand and stones, yellow sand everywhere,the staff at the research institute at that time were all pale and thin, wearing faded old clothes,“they all looked like local villagers.”“To be honest, I didn’t want to go to Dunhuang at that time.”Before the internship ended,this severely unadapted child from Beijing withdrew.However, after returning to Beijing, what she dreamed of countless times was still that one cave,and the unparalleled murals and statues inside the cave.When it came time for graduation assignment,Fan Jinshi was again “assigned” to Dunhuang.Her father once wrote a letter to the school leadersstating the actual difficulties such as “my daughter has been weak and sickly since childhood”,hoping the school would assign another student with better health.What was the result? This letter was burned by Fan Jinshi.
Illustration | In 1965, Fan Jinshi with her “long-distance boyfriend” Peng JinzhanThey married two years laterFrom the flames, emergedthe flying heavenly murals with fluttering garments and interlacing light and shadow,thus Fan Jinshi returned to Dunhuang.At that time, the conditions were so harsh thatshe got used to loneliness,used to not looking in the mirror; used to ceilings covered with newspapers; used to having mice fall on her pillow at midnight,then getting up to dust it off and continue sleeping as if nothing happened……She later said in her memoir,“If I said I never hesitated or wavered,that would be a lie.Dunhuang and Beijing, Shanghai are indeed two worlds…I often felt as if the whole world had forgotten me,Peking University had forgotten me, and so had Old Peng.Looking out at the dark window,I have secretly shed tears more than once.But the next day, as long as I walked into the caves,I felt that no matter how bitter or tired it was, it was worth it.”
Since “dreaming is Dunhuang, waking up is still Dunhuang,”she willingly became “the daughter of Dunhuang,”willing to take root in the desert, and devoted to protecting Dunhuang for sixty years.Everything she has done for Dunhuanghas been called “immeasurable merit” by Mr. Ji Xianlin.This July,Fan Jinshi donated 10 million yuan to the Dunhuang Research Institute,dedicating herself to the end.Chang Shuhong once said,although he did not believe in religion, if there is a next life,he would still want to be Chang Shuhong and still want to protect Dunhuang.For those whose hearts belong to Dunhuang,one life is too short, but love is too long.Fan Jinshi, who is not good at sweet talk,has also given her most beautiful “love words” to Dunhuang:“If I had another choice,I would still choose Dunhuang, choose Mogao Caves.”
03
Choosing One Thing in a Lifetime, Dedicating One’s Youth to It
In writing about them,many “confusions of life” seem to have been understood.They stand there, without words, providing their own answers.If you are feeling dim due to aging,look at them, with silver hair like snow, gentle as jade; if you can dedicate your life to what you love like them, wouldn’t that be wonderful?If you are struggling with “which path to take to avoid regrets,”look at them, their choices are not measured by “wealth,” “comfort,” or “ease,” they are all heading towards what their hearts desire, aren’t they?With the heart settled, the path ahead is no longer wandering. Because with the heart as the compass, every step is “where my heart belongs,” you will become more determined and grounded.
If you are anxious, unable to calm down or sit still,look at them, as they walk along, if what drags behind is a sense of “gain and loss,” how can one achieve great things? With a bit of strength, they have earnestly and sincerely treated their work and their youth.Fan Jinshi has a saying: “The present is nirvana,” the question is, do you cherish every “present”? Once you decide, do you hold on to it?If you are confused, with many questions about life,look at them, “They chose Dunhuang as their spiritual home, and Dunhuang chose them to tell the world its vicissitudes, splendor, and eternity.” What makes Dunhuang charming, what makes the world obsessed and yearn for it, is not only its unparalleled cultural and artistic treasures but also the everything that those who guard Dunhuang are willing to offer.Finally, I pose a soul-searching question to you:What do you wish your life, through your name, to convey to those around you, to this world?I hope that one day, you can say without regret or shame: “C’est la vie, this is life.”Content | CCTV News “Night Read” edited and compiledCover Image | Visual China
📮 Submission Email: [email protected]
- This weekend, enjoy autumn!
- Just finished hot pot, come in to gain knowledge!
- There is no wasted path in life, every step counts
- Working hard steadily feels really good
- Life is passionate, hidden in the mundane
- Life is busy, we must invest our hearts more
Producer | Li Zhe Editor | Wang Ruolu Proofreader | Gao Shaozhu
© CCTV News
Like, wishing our “Daughters of Dunhuang” health and longevity! 😊