Mogao Ku Daves (Caves of the Thousand Buddhas) Qianfo Dong
The main attraction for visitors to the area around Dunhuang are undoubtedly the unique treasures found in the Mogao Ku caves, also known as the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas (Qianfo Dong). Mogao is a small town 25km/15.5mi southeast of Dunhuang. The caves are a very important center of Buddhist art and give an insight into the political and economic life of the times during which they were constructed.
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The first grotto was hewn out of the rock by the monk Lezun in the year 366. As Buddhism spread so did the number of such caves, so that over a span of some 1000 years diggings were made into a wall of sandstone measuring 1600m/1mi in length; by the Tang period (618-907) a thousand meters (eleven hundred yards) had been excavated in this way. In the Ming period (1368-1644) the caves gradually became forgotten. It was not until 1949 that the Chinese government made efforts to preserve this unique cultural site and set up a research institute for this purpose. In 1987 UNESCO included the caves in their list of the World's Cultural Heritage Sites.
492 mainly square or rectangular caves, with 2415 statues in colored clay, 45,000sq.m/484,000sq.ft of wall-paintings and five wooden buildings have survived the ravages of time, but the remaining caves have been destroyed by the effects of weather. The largest grotto is 40m/130ft high and 30m/100ft wide and deep, while the smallest is less than 1m/3ft4in. high. Each cave has a plaque showing its official number, date of construction and dynasty. The sculptures are all of painted clay, the largest being 33m/108ft and the smallest just 10cm/4in. They are of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, holy men, youths and Buddhist believers. The wall-paintings cover all kinds of subjects - Buddhist characters, episodes from the Sutras, the teachings of Buddha, legends, fairy tales, everyday scenes, floral patterns and geometric decoration.
It was not until the year 1900 that a monk named Wang Yuanlu found in Cave No. 16 an enormous treasure of inestimable value, consisting of 40,000 scrolls with Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian writings as well as silk-paintings, embroidery and bronze statuettes, dating from the 4th to the 11th C. They had probably been hidden there by the monks in 1035 when a hostile army approached. The monks fled, never to return, so that the treasure was forgotten. Wang reported his find to the authorities who, however, did nothing. Eventually, he sold the largest and most valuable part of the treasure to British, French and Japanese explorers.
492 mainly square or rectangular caves, with 2415 statues in colored clay, 45,000sq.m/484,000sq.ft of wall-paintings and five wooden buildings have survived the ravages of time, but the remaining caves have been destroyed by the effects of weather. The largest grotto is 40m/130ft high and 30m/100ft wide and deep, while the smallest is less than 1m/3ft4in. high. Each cave has a plaque showing its official number, date of construction and dynasty. The sculptures are all of painted clay, the largest being 33m/108ft and the smallest just 10cm/4in. They are of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, holy men, youths and Buddhist believers. The wall-paintings cover all kinds of subjects - Buddhist characters, episodes from the Sutras, the teachings of Buddha, legends, fairy tales, everyday scenes, floral patterns and geometric decoration.
It was not until the year 1900 that a monk named Wang Yuanlu found in Cave No. 16 an enormous treasure of inestimable value, consisting of 40,000 scrolls with Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian writings as well as silk-paintings, embroidery and bronze statuettes, dating from the 4th to the 11th C. They had probably been hidden there by the monks in 1035 when a hostile army approached. The monks fled, never to return, so that the treasure was forgotten. Wang reported his find to the authorities who, however, did nothing. Eventually, he sold the largest and most valuable part of the treasure to British, French and Japanese explorers.
Related Attractions
Mogao Ku - Caves of the Western Wei Dynasty
On the walls of Cave No. 249, one of the caves of the Western Wei dynasty (535-557), can be seen scenes of a tiger and antelope hunt; they show one hunter on horseback following three gazelles and a second who has just killed a tiger.
Caves Nos. 285 and 432 are also worth a visit.
Caves Nos. 285 and 432 are also worth a visit.
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.
Mogao Ku Caves - Caves of the Northern Wei Dynasty
The Wai Caves show unmistakable signs of Indian influence both in the choice of subjects and in the methods employed. The statues are of impressive size; the wall-paintings mainly portray scenes from the life of the historical Shakyamuni Buddha.
In Cave No. 254 the wall-paintings are based on a theme dear to the hearts of Buddhists - sacrificing self for the good of others. One picture shows Prince Sudana cutting flesh from his own body with a piece of dried bamboo cane in order to feed it to a hungry tiger lying next to him. The next scene shows his parents and siblings in mourning for the dead prince.
Cave No. 259 contains the statue of a Buddhist saint. Her white face and mysterious smile have earned her the nickname of ''Mona Lisa''.
Cave No. 275, dating from the second half of the 4th C, is famous for its painting showing the self-sacrifices of Shakyamuni in an earlier life. Shakyamuni, then King Sivi, is sitting cross-legged and watching with satisfaction a dove which he has saved, while an executioner is cutting flesh from his body to feed an eagle. His serene countenance is in stark contrast to the grim face of the executioner. Other beautiful examples of the art of this period are Caves Nos. 248, 257, 260, 263, 272, 428, 431, 435 and 439.
In Cave No. 254 the wall-paintings are based on a theme dear to the hearts of Buddhists - sacrificing self for the good of others. One picture shows Prince Sudana cutting flesh from his own body with a piece of dried bamboo cane in order to feed it to a hungry tiger lying next to him. The next scene shows his parents and siblings in mourning for the dead prince.
Cave No. 259 contains the statue of a Buddhist saint. Her white face and mysterious smile have earned her the nickname of ''Mona Lisa''.
Cave No. 275, dating from the second half of the 4th C, is famous for its painting showing the self-sacrifices of Shakyamuni in an earlier life. Shakyamuni, then King Sivi, is sitting cross-legged and watching with satisfaction a dove which he has saved, while an executioner is cutting flesh from his body to feed an eagle. His serene countenance is in stark contrast to the grim face of the executioner. Other beautiful examples of the art of this period are Caves Nos. 248, 257, 260, 263, 272, 428, 431, 435 and 439.
Mogao Ku Caves - Caves of the Northern Zhou Dynasty
Cave No. 428 of the Northern Zhou dynasty (557-581) portrays the self-sacrifice of Prince Sudana. Cave No. 296 is also of interest.
Mogao Ku Caves - Caves of the Sui Dynasty
95 caves remain from the time of the Sui dynasty (581-618), when Buddhist art showed marked Chinese characteristics.
Cave No. 419 houses a group of colored clay statues, including a Buddha, two Bodhisattvas and Ananda (Buddha's favorite disciple). Note in particular the sculpture of the ascetic Mahakasyapa, who reflects the joy felt by one who has passed all the tests that life can impose. His decayed teeth, deeply-lined face and the protruding veins in his neck all show how this ascetic suffered.
The wall-painting in Cave No. 423 shows the God of the East, an immortal being from Chinese mythology.
Note also Caves Nos. 244, 294, 295, 305, 404, 420 and 427.
Cave No. 419 houses a group of colored clay statues, including a Buddha, two Bodhisattvas and Ananda (Buddha's favorite disciple). Note in particular the sculpture of the ascetic Mahakasyapa, who reflects the joy felt by one who has passed all the tests that life can impose. His decayed teeth, deeply-lined face and the protruding veins in his neck all show how this ascetic suffered.
The wall-painting in Cave No. 423 shows the God of the East, an immortal being from Chinese mythology.
Note also Caves Nos. 244, 294, 295, 305, 404, 420 and 427.
Mogao Ku Caves - Caves of the Tang Dynasty
The 213 preserved caves from the Tang dynasty (618-907), where again a degree of Indian influence can be seen, make up the largest group. The largest Dunhuang statue, a 33m/108ft high Buddha Amitabha, will be found in Cave No. 96.
Cave No. 136 contains a 26m/85ft high figure, and No. 158 a reclining figure of Buddha as he enters Nirvana.
The wall-painting in Cave No. 220 shows a concert with musical instruments of the period - a valuable contribution to our knowledge of Chinese musical history.
In Cave No. 329 can be seen the famous wall-painting of ''The Land of Buddha'', the Land of Purity. In the center of the picture sits Amitabha on a throne of lotus blossom, with a Bodhisattva on each side. In front of him several young ladies are dancing and an orchestra is playing. Asparas, Buddhist angels, float between the clouds in the sky.
Also of interest are Caves Nos. 45, 112, 156, 217, 320-322, 328 and 445.
Cave No. 136 contains a 26m/85ft high figure, and No. 158 a reclining figure of Buddha as he enters Nirvana.
The wall-painting in Cave No. 220 shows a concert with musical instruments of the period - a valuable contribution to our knowledge of Chinese musical history.
In Cave No. 329 can be seen the famous wall-painting of ''The Land of Buddha'', the Land of Purity. In the center of the picture sits Amitabha on a throne of lotus blossom, with a Bodhisattva on each side. In front of him several young ladies are dancing and an orchestra is playing. Asparas, Buddhist angels, float between the clouds in the sky.
Also of interest are Caves Nos. 45, 112, 156, 217, 320-322, 328 and 445.
Mogao Ku Caves - Caves of the Yuan Period
During the Western Xia period (1032-1227) little other than restoration work was carried out on the caves, while in the Yuan period (1271-1368) nine new caves were constructed. Cave No. 465 is from this era and boasts 60 well-preserved murals showing shepherds and craftsmen at work.
