Text and Image Across Media and Languages: A Case Study of Tangut, Chinese, and Uyghur Illuminated Sutras and Inscriptions

This paper explores the relationship between text and image in the Buddhist context, focusing on illuminated versions of the Avalokiteśvara-sūtra in Tangut, Chinese, and Uyghur languages, excavated from Khara-khoto, Dunhuang, and Turfan. Created between the 9th and 12th centuries, these manuscripts reveal striking visual coherence and suggest a well-established tradition of illuminated Buddhist texts in Eastern Central Asia during the middle period. The paper examines how the sutra integrates imagery with scripture to enhance the ritual experience, highlighting the role of visual elements in the transmission of religious teachings. Additionally, it expands the analysis to include other examples of text-image relationships, such as the pilgrim drawings found on the walls of the Mogao caves in Dunhuang. By drawing connections between these diverse materials, this research contributes to a broader understanding of the interplay between visual and textual forms in Buddhist practices and offers new insights into understudied materials.