Mogao Grottoes

莫高窟

Family Documentary

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Synopsis

Dunhuang World Cultural Heritage, founded in 366 AD, features 735 caves, over 2,000 painted sculptures, and more than 45,000 square meters of murals, showcasing the development of Buddhist art over a millennium.

Overview

The Mogao Caves, located in Dunhuang at the western end of the Hexi Corridor, are one of China's three major grotto complexes (alongside the Yungang Grottoes in Datong and the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang). They were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in December 1987.

The excavation of the Mogao Caves spanned approximately 1,000 years, from the Sixteen Kingdoms period to the Yuan Dynasty, a duration unparalleled among Chinese grottoes. It is both a brilliant artistic treasure house of ancient Chinese civilization and the world's largest and most completely preserved site of Buddhist art.

The extant 735 caves preserve 45,000 square meters of murals dating from the 4th to the 14th centuries, showcasing the development of Buddhist art. Additionally, there are over 2,000 painted sculptures, 45,000 square meters of murals, and tens of thousands of cultural relics from the Library Cave.

History

The Mogao Caves were first constructed in the second year of the Jianyuan era of the Former Qin Dynasty (366 AD). Legend has it that a monk named Lezun saw a golden light resembling a thousand Buddhas appear before Mount Sanwei and subsequently excavated the first cave.

Thereafter, through successive dynasties including the Sixteen Kingdoms, Northern Dynasties, Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties, Western Xia, and Yuan, the Mogao Caves underwent a millennium of excavation and construction.

The Tang Dynasty was the peak period of the Mogao Caves, with a large number of exquisite caves excavated, and the art of murals and painted sculptures reaching its zenith. Tang Dynasty murals are renowned for their rich colors, fluid lines, and grand compositions.

In 1900, Taoist priest Wang Yuanlu accidentally discovered the Library Cave (Cave 17) while clearing away sand, unearthing about 50,000 documents and artworks from the 4th to 11th centuries, which astonished the world.

Key Attractions

Attraction	Description
Nine-Story Pavilion	Iconic structure of Mogao Caves, housing a 35-meter tall Buddha
Library Cave	Cave 17, where about 50,000 relics were unearthed
Flying Apsaras Murals	The most representative mural theme of Mogao Caves
Playing the Pipa Backwards	A classic mural image at Mogao Caves
The Jataka Tale of the Nine-Colored Deer	A classic mural from the Northern Wei period

Practical Information

Item	Details
Location	Dunhuang City, Gansu Province
Designation	World Cultural Heritage (1987)
Number of Caves	735
Mural Area	Over 45,000 square meters
Number of Painted Sculptures	Over 2,000
Excavation Period	From 366 AD, continuing for 1000 years
Peak Season Ticket	200 RMB/person
Off-Season Ticket	100 RMB/person

Cultural Significance

The Mogao Caves are hailed as the "Treasure House of Eastern Art." Unlike the Longmen Grottoes, which focus mainly on stone carvings, the Mogao Caves excel in mural art, showcasing the evolution of Chinese Buddhist art from the Northern Wei to the Yuan Dynasty.

Dunhuang studies have become an international discipline. The murals, painted sculptures, and Library Cave relics of Mogao provide invaluable physical materials for researching ancient Chinese politics, economy, culture, religion, and art.

Item	Data
Initial Excavation	366 AD (Former Qin)
World Heritage	Inscribed in 1987
China's Three Major Grottoes	Mogao Caves, Yungang Grottoes, Longmen Grottoes
Library Cave Relics	Approximately 50,000 items