Study On Dunhuang’s Mineral Resources During The Tang And Five Dynasties And The Early Song

Dunhuang documents lay a solid foundation for the studies of the using and state of mineral resources during the Tang and the Five Dynasties and the Early Song.By studying these record,we could learn much about the social life in Dunhuang from the perspective of the exploitation of mineral resources.According to the preliminary estimates of the paperwork,there were about 79 minerals,including 23 metal minerals,56 nonmetallic minerals,353 artifacts and 67 staff titles,which is relatively larger than the records in Dunhuang documents.During that period,majority of the local minerals of Dunhuang were basic ones used for daily life,therefore,Dunhuang relied on imports for most of its rare minerals,especially from the western region.There were 79 recorded minerals,among which40 had clear origin(19 were local,21 were imported),others did not.Among the imported ones,there were 9 from the Central Region,and 12 from the Western Region.These minerals and artifacts guaranteed the steady reign of Guiyijun’s political power during that turbulent period.There were wide exploitations and applications of the minerals during that period.From various of instruments,weapons,clothes,dye and medicine recorded by the document,we could draw a brief picture of the social life during the Tang and the Five Dynasties and the Early Song.Abundant resources made up for the poverty of local minerals,satisfied the needs of people’s daily life in Dunhuang,and provided the Guiyijun with a major support in isolation as well.