Duan Wenjie (1917-2011), born in Mianyang, Sichuan province, graduated from the National College of Art in Chongqing in 1945.

Duan acted in succession as the head of the Fine Arts Group of National Dunhuang Art Research Institute, director of the Dunhuang Cultural Relics Research Institute, president and honorary president of Dunhuang Academy, a member of the 6th and 7th National Committees of CPPCC, and vice-chairman of Gansu Branch of China Artists Association.

Duan was one of the pioneers and pathfinders of Dunhuang grotto murals copying. He was the painter or co-painter of 380-plus representative copies of Dunhuang grotto murals of various dynasties, totaling 140-plus square meters, becoming one of the representative painters with the highest numbers of Dunhuang grotto murals copies and the highest painting levels.

Duan was a leading scholar of Dunhuangology and made groundbreaking research in the ethnic traditions, styles and characteristics, origin and development and artistic achievements of Dunhuang arts.

His publications include Ethnic Traditions of and Foreign Influences on Early Murals of Mogao Grottoes, Mogao Grottoes Arts in Early Stage, Mogao Grottoes Arts in Early Tang Dynasty, Mogao Grottoes Arts in Late Tang Dynasty, Mogao Grottoes Arts in Late Stage, On Lifelike Arts of Dunhuang Grotto Murals, Dunhuang Grottos Arts Analects, and Duan Wenjie Essays on Dunhuang Arts. Duan headed the compilation of large-scale Dunhuang-themed albums such as Dunhuang Painted Sculpture, China Grottoes – Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, and Complete Works of Dunhuang Grottoes Arts (22 volumes).

Duan initiated the founding of Dunhuang Research in 1981 and acted as the editor-in-chief. Staying in the desert area for more than 60 years, Duan devoted his whole life to protecting, studying and carrying forward Dunhuang cultural relics with outstanding results. In 2000, Gansu provincial government and National Cultural Heritage Administration jointly awarded Duan the "Outstanding Contribution Prize for Protecting and Studying Dunhuang Cultural Relics". In 2007, Gansu provincial government and National Cultural Heritage Administration jointly granted Duanthe "Lifetime Achievement Award for Protecting and Studying Dunhuang Cultural Relics and Arts".