At the end of the vast Hexi Corridor, there is a thousand year old ancient temple – Mogao Caves, also known as Thousand Buddha Caves. This Buddhist art holy land is not only a brilliant treasure of ancient Chinese civilization, but also a witness to the dialogue and integration of different civilizations on the ancient Silk Road. Today, let’s explore the origin and history of Mogao Caves together, and feel the legend of Buddhism in this desert.
Artistic characteristics
The artistic characteristics of Mogao Grottoes are mainly reflected in their murals and sculptures. The murals are rich and diverse in content, including Buddhist stories, myths and legends, historical events, etc., showcasing the doctrines and methods of Buddhist practice, reflecting the social landscape and ideological concepts of the time. Sculpture works are known for their intricate carving and three-dimensional sense, showcasing the artist’s superb skills. In addition, the art works of Mogao Grottoes integrate various cultural elements such as Han, Uyghur, Tibetan, etc., forming a unique artistic style.
Historical evolution
The history of Mogao Caves can be traced back to the Sixteen Kingdoms period. According to the “Li Kerang’s Reconstruction of the Pagoda Stele in Mogao Grottoes”, in the second year of Jianyuan in the Former Qin Dynasty (366 AD), the monk Lezun passed by this mountain and suddenly saw a golden light shining like ten thousand Buddhas, so he dug the first cave on the rock wall. This move marked the beginning of a thousand year journey of Buddhist art in the Mogao Caves.
During the Northern Wei, Western Wei, and Northern Zhou dynasties, rulers revered Buddhism, and the construction of grottoes received support from nobles and nobles, leading to rapid development. At this time, the number of caves in Mogao Grottoes gradually increased, and the Buddha statues and murals became increasingly exquisite. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, with the prosperity of the Silk Road, the Mogao Caves flourished even more, and Wu Zetian had over a thousand caves. At this time, the Mogao Caves were not only the center of Chinese Buddhist art, but also an important place for cultural exchange between the East and the West.
However, the changes in history are always full of twists and turns. After the An Lushan Rebellion, Dunhuang was successively occupied by Tubo and Guiyi Army, but the statue making activities were not greatly affected. During the Northern Song Dynasty, Western Xia Dynasty, and Yuan Dynasty, the Mogao Caves gradually declined, with only the reconstruction of the caves from the previous dynasty being the main focus, and very few new constructions. However, even so, the Mogao Caves still maintain their unique artistic charm, attracting countless believers and tourists to worship and visit.
As a world cultural heritage site, Mogao Grottoes attract numerous tourists and scholars to come and appreciate and study. It is not only an important tourist attraction, but also provides rich educational resources to help people better understand ancient Chinese history, culture, and art.
The opening hours of Mogao Grottoes are from 8:00 to 18:00 every day. It is recommended that tourists book tickets in advance to avoid disappointment. The best time to travel is from April to November every year, especially from June to September. Tourists can learn about the history and culture of Mogao Grottoes through high-tech means at the digital display center, and then take the shuttle bus to the stone cave group in the scenic area. It is recommended to bring a flashlight during the visit to better observe details and maintain silence to respect the historical site.
