Project Title:	The Cultural Map of China
Contact:	Dr. Qiang Ning Department of History of Art 120D Tappan Hall Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1357 Tel: (734)763-6111 ningq@umich.edu		Dr. Shuming Bao China Data Center Suite 3630, 1080 S. University Ave Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106 Tel: 734 647-9610 sbao@umich.edu
Website	http://141.211.136.209/silkroad/silkproject/
Description:	Collaborating with the Institute of World Religion Studies and the Institute of Buddhism of China, this pilot project is to help students and the American public understand the cultural/artistic traditions of China by developing an Internet GIS (Geographical Information Systems)-based cultural map of the Silkroad. This project aims to collect and digitize representative works of Chinese Buddhist monuments and to publish them on the web. Most important sites, including Kizil, Turfan, Dunhuang, Binglinsi, Maijishan in the northwestern region, Dazu, Anyue, Bazhong, Guangyuan, Leshan, Dali in the southwestern region, and Yungang, Longmeng, Xiangtangshan in central China, will be covered. In addition to the representative images and textual introductions, this project also compiles a detailed bibliography to help scholars for their further studies on these monuments. The Institute of Religion Studies and the Institute of Buddhism have developed a comprehensive database on Buddhist studies in China. This pilot project will develop a prototype for the Internet GIS-based China religion map with a focus on the Silkroad. This project will provide a major advance in the GIS applications in history and art. Over the last three decades, scientific and technological advances in geographic information systems have been involved with environmental sciences and physical geography. This project will help to bring about the integration of GIS technology in historical studies. This project adds value to China studies by supplementing data with geographic references in several ways: not only does this allow the data to be presented in the form of easily understood maps, but it also allows diverse data to be accurately joined using the geographic references. The joint seminars offered by this project will provide an opportunity for cultural information exchange between the U.S. and China
period:	8.2000 -;
Participants:	Qiang Ning, Department of History of Arts Shuming Bao, China Data Center Zong Zhang, the Institute of World Religions, CASS Martin Powers, Department of History of Arts Karl Longstreth, China Data Center Xiaofei Chen, Asia Library Xiaomeng Yuan, College of Engineering Yifan Ji, School of Information Heyewook Chung, School of Information Mellisa Lau, College of Literature, Sciences and Arts Stephen Wong, College of Literature, Sciences and Arts Dong Niu, the China Data Center Sharon Nakpairat, William Davidson Institute
Sponsors:	The Office of Vice President for Research (OVPR), University of Michigan The Center for Chinese Studies (CCS), University of Michigan The China Data Center (CDC), University of Michigan Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), University of Michigan Internet Technology Development (ITD), University of Michigan
Partnerships:	The Institute of World Religion Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences The Institute of Buddhism of China