本书中的“蒙古”称雄欧亚大陆的蒙古四大汗国的后续王朝。该山水地图大约绘制于明代中叶，全面反映了明朝与西方的陆路交通，堪称明代丝绸之路地图，该山水地图的发现将推动 丝绸之路历史、考古和地理研究的深入。

Despite Li Gonglin’s (ca. 1049-1106) deep faith in Buddhism and the large number of recorded and extant Buddhist paintings associated with or ascribed to this great painter, twentieth century scholarship on Li Gonglin has focused primarily on his literatus identity and Confucian art oeuvres. This book departs from this traditional view to establish Li Gonglin’s importance in Chinese Buddhist art history through both the local Longmian Chan and the larger Northern Song religious contexts. It offers a fresh understanding of the impact the intermingling of Tiantai, Pure Land, Huayan and Chan philosophies and practices had on Li Gonglin’s faith and art. Painting Buddhist subjects to Li Gonglin was an expression of faith.