The Origin Myth of the Xianbei: The Significance of the Gaxiandong Cave

Silk Road Buddhism Lecture Series

Albert E Dien Professor of Chinese, Emeritus, Stanford University

The discovery in 1977 of an inscription dating to 443 CE on a wall of the Gaxiandong Cave in the far northeast of China has led to much discussion concerning its connection with the origin myth of the Xianbei, a nomadic people who had conquered north China and established the Northern Wei dynasty in 386.  Traces of a second inscription has engendered further interest in the cave. This lecture will present first-hand observations of the site and the present state of research on the archaeological significance of the cave and the movement of the Xianbei into China.