Langdon Warner facts for kids
Langdon Warner (1881–1955) was an American expert in archaeology and art history. He focused on art from East Asia, like China and Japan. He taught at Harvard and was a curator at the Fogg Museum. Some people say he was one of the real-life inspirations for the famous movie character, Indiana Jones! He explored the Silk Road in the early 1900s. In 1927, he became a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Warner's Career
Langdon Warner finished college at Harvard in 1903. He was very interested in Buddhist art and archaeology. After traveling to Asia several times, he came back to Harvard. There, he taught the very first classes on Japanese and Chinese art at the university.
In 1913, the Smithsonian Institution sent him to Asia again. He spent over a year there. However, World War I started, which stopped his work. Later, in 1922, the Fogg Museum sent him to China for more research.
Role in World War II
Langdon Warner's work as an archaeologist was paused when the United States joined World War II. He became part of a special group called the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives (MFAA) Section of the U.S. Army. From April to September 1946, he worked as an advisor for the MFAA in Japan.
Many people believe Warner helped save important Japanese cities from being bombed during the war. These cities included Kyoto, Nara, and Kamakura. They were full of ancient buildings and cultural treasures. Because of this, monuments were built in his honor in Kyoto, Hōryū-ji, and Kamakura.
However, some historians, like Otis Cary, say that the credit for saving these sites belongs to the U.S. Secretary of War, Henry L. Stimson. Stimson was the one who made the final decision not to bomb these cultural heritage sites.
Important Books
Langdon Warner wrote several books about art and history:
- The Long Old Road in China (1926)
- The Craft of the Japanese Sculptor (1936)
- Buddhist Wall-Paintings: A Study of a Ninth-Century Grotto at Wan Fo Hsia (1938)
- The Enduring Art of Japan (1952)
- Japanese Sculpture of the Tempyo Period: Masterpieces of the Eighth Century (1959)
