Introduction
The Archives is in possession of 153 works of photographer Kuan-yu Tu, which center around his participation in a 1996 survey project on historical Buddhist sites and remains in Central Asia led by IHP Research Fellow Chuan-ying Yen and supported by the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation. The survey began in Pakistan, specifically the cities of Karachi, Lahore, Taxila, and Peshawar, and then continued into China, namely Xinjiang as well as Gansu and Shaanxi provinces, visiting ancient cities, Buddhist cliff caves and grottoes, and temple architecture. Tu’s works not only leave us with invaluable images of precious Buddhist sites and relics, but also record the life of fieldwork and travel. The 2018 “Kuan-yu Tu Photography Exhibition: Trekking the World—Traces of Buddhist Travels” held by the IHP showcased these works, and after its conclusion, Tu donated the entire collection to the Archives.