Mogao Caves

Mogao Caves are located on Mount Singing Sands in Dunhuang. This is an early temple of China, erected in 353-366 years of our era and is the oldest creation of manual work. According to legend, the caves appeared due to the fact that some Chinese pilgrim Le Zu-nu came a vision of a thousand golden Buddhas. It was a landmark symbol, after which they decided to cut the rock in this holy place.

Later, many put in great difficulty and effort to create a work of gigantic art. A thousand caves were created, the main emphasis for the decoration of which was fresco painting, as a result of which all the walls of the caves were coated with fresco painting made with motley adhesive paints on dry soil. Due to such a huge number of caves created, the complex got a different name – this is « Caves of the thousand Buddhas ».

Mogao Cave Temples are a harmonious combination of architectural, fresco and sculptural styles.

The largest Mogao caves cover an area of 45 thousand square meters, where there are many caves of various sizes connecting one to the other, the smallest of which is 1 meter high and the largest reaches 40 meters. The whole complex has several levels, and stretches 1700 meters in length. To date, 492 caves have reached.

The Mogao Cave Complex holds a huge collection of works that present Buddhist culture and art. Here is a whole gallery of priceless sculptures, wall paintings, as well as various thematic drawings on silk, engravings, embroideries and similar works by ancient craftsmen.

The material for Buddhist sculptures was the natural material – clay. The most valuable of them are the figures that were created even before the Tang dynasty.

Fresco painting presents portraits of saints, monks, emperors and ordinary residents, stories from Buddhist canons, various legends. Some caves are completely painted, distinguished by dynamism and vitality. On the walls you can consider the performance of musicians, the celebration and fun for the feast, work in the field, fishing, the king saving the deer, warrior tournaments and many other very different stories. Despite the fact that a lot of time has passed, the paintings have not lost their brightness and clarity. The works of art of Mogao caves are called the wall library.

Mogao Caves are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can view several caves preserved in the original and seven recreated again. You can get into the cave complex only accompanied by a guide, photographing inside the caves is strictly prohibited.