Dunhuang studies, which was established as a new academic field during the twentieth century, and Turfan studies, which joined it later, have not lost their significance even after more than a century.The Japanese academic community has been involved in Dunhuang and Turfan studies from early on and has produced many results.Specifically, Toyo Bunko has played a crucial role in promoting this research, particularly after World War II.However, recently, senior scholars have been retiring and aging, whereas the number of mid-career and young scholars has not increased, and the community appears to be losing its former vigor.This symposium was held over two days in early March 2024.Focusing on the current state of Japanese academia and hoping to rekindle its vitality, the chief participants were Japanese mid-career and young scholars who are at the forefront of this field, along with two Chinese scholars of the same generation (12 presenters in all with two other young scholars also participated as interpreters).Each presenter delivered an in-depth report in response to the common theme and title of the symposium, "The Frontiers of Dunhuang-Turfan Studies: Traditions and Innovations."Based on these reports, two senior scholars (Arakawa Masaharu and Seo Tatsuhiko, Research Fellows, Toyo Bunko) added their comments and two others (Professors Otsu Toru and Takata Tokio) provided general remarks on the symposium.
A 2025 study studied this question.