WARNER FINDS OLDEST OF BUDDHIST CHAPELS

A hitherto undisclosed Chinese Buddhist chapel of very ancient origin has been discovered by Mr. Langdon Warner, the first American to ever undertake, on behalf of an American university, a search for ancient art in western China. Mr. Warner was formerly Director of the Pennsylvania museum, but is now a member of the Fine Arts Faculty of the University and on the staff of the Fogg Art Museum. He has just returned from a year's trip on foot along the 3000 year old Indo-Chinese route.

In a high cliff overlooking the trade route he discovered a Buddhist chapel dating back to the 5th century A. D. British and French expeditions which were active in China before the war had failed to discover this chapel. It is, with one exception, the westernmost example of North Wei culture. More of its origin Mr, Warner believes can be determined by the interpretation by other authorities at Harvard of a stone slab found nearby and which he brought back with him.

Ornately Carved In Solid Rock

"The chapel", he said, "is carved out of the rock cliff. It is about 40 feet square and every inch of the walls is carved with Buddhist figures. In the center there is a natural rock pillar which supports the chapel, on which are carved large elephant heads facing the four corners of the earth. As the elephant is not a native animal to China, Indian or Buddhist influences were firmly entrenched in China in the 5th century.

"Unfortunately a part of one corner of the chapel had caved in, covering many important figures, which, owing to the limited size of our expedition--it consisted only of Mr. H. H. F. Jayne '20, myself and three native Mongolians--we were unable to clear off the tons of debris."

Brings Back Photos and Treasures

Mr. Warner brought back with him many photographs and stone rubbings of the Chinese characters of the cave, but did not rob it of any of its contents. He said:

"We were out to find what we could about ancient Chinese Buddhist art and not on a trip for plunder. The conditions and surroundings in which these ancient treasures are found are almost as important in our search for knowledge of the ancient Chinese civilization as the art treasures themselves. It is regrettable that so much of the Chinese art imported to this country in recent years has been removed from its native surroundings without accurate records of the place from where it was taken.

"Everybody asks me if I was held up by any bandits. I was not. My little expedition was looking for art, not for romance, and hence whenever we suspected passers-by of bandit proclivities we were very careful to avoid them."

American Universities Must Take Lead

With him Mr. Warner brought back a few places of ancient Chinese art as well as some stone rubbings and many photographs. All of these must be examined by various departments of Harvard University before their exact significance can be understood.

"This is an example", Mr. Warner said; "of why great universities must undertake this work of exploring the past. Much of the material will have to be passed around several different departments of the University, all of which are within a stone's throw of the art museum.

"The work of exploring ancient China in the past has always been done by the British and French and sometimes the German. Owing to the economic conditions in Europe their activities in this line have now ceased and it is really up to America to carry on.