During his seven-year tenure as Dunhuang's magistrate, Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) official Su Lyuji accomplished two undertakings later considered of great importance: he rebuilt the Mingsha Academy, and he supervised the compilation of the Dunhuang County Gazetteer, donating his own allowances to fund the making of printing blocks.
Now after a long road trip, two of the printing blocks for the Dunhuang County Gazetteer have joined other objects of historical value at the ongoing Ru Shi Mogao, an exhibition of Dunhuang culture and art running until Nov 11 at Beijing Exhibition Center.
The blocks, together with several other artifacts including patterned bricks of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), coins and textiles, are usually housed at Dunhuang Museum in Gansu province.
