Mogao Ku Caves - Caves of the Five Dynasties

Period of the Five Dynasties (907-960) and of the Early Song (960-1279): The persecution of Buddhists in 845 brought a stagnation of Buddhist art in its wake. As there was no space for any further caves to be built the existing ones were later restored. From that period 33 caves remain, and of these No. 16 is of particular interest. It contains a painting measuring 13.5m x 5m (44ft x 16ft) of the Wutaishan Mountains and everyday scenes from this mountain region. It is a sort of map of the country, one of the oldest of its kind in China. Note also Cave No. 98.