Cave Forms in the Mogao Grottoes (莫高窟洞窟形制)
There are currently 735 caves of 9 different architectural forms in the Mogao Grottoes. The names of the architectural forms were not historically recorded or told, except for a few large caves like the “Large Statue Cave”. Modern archaeologists categorized and named these caves based on their unique features. Based on the grouping, each Mogao cave could be categorized as one of these forms. Continue reading…
Dunhuang Cave Donors Part 1 – Dynastic Features（敦煌洞窟供养人节选1 – 时代特征）
The rich documentation of ancient Dunhuang donor activities in the Mogao Grottoes could be grouped into two categories: 1) reference materials about donors, which include about 7,000 inscriptions among the mural paintings in the Mogao caves, donor inscriptions on paintings on silk and paper excavated from the Library Cave, and writings about monastery and worldly Buddhist believers donor activities from the Tang and Song dynasties; 2) donor images, which include tens of thousands donor portraits in the Dunhuang Caves from the Sixteen Kingdoms period to the Yuan dynasty, and hundreds of portraits of donors from the the Tang, Five Dynasties, and Song dynasties on silk, hemp, and paper excavated from the Mogao Grottoes Library Cave. Continue reading…
Dunhuang Cave Donors Part 2 – Donor and Portrait Types (敦煌洞窟供养人节选2 – 供养人及其像类型）
Except for portraits of Buddhist characters, there are a lot of colored paintings of sponsors of the cave (Cave owners), their family (donors), and their outing entourages in the Dunhuang Caves. Continue reading…
Dunhuang Cave Donors Part 3 – Donors on Silk, Hemp, and Paper (敦煌洞窟供养人节选3 – 绢、麻、纸上的供养人像）
It was excavated from the Dunhuang Library Cave thousands of paintings on silk, hemp, and paper, ranging from the Tang to the Northern Song dynasty, with the majority of them from the Five Dynasties. Compared with paintings in the caves, paintings on silk, hemp, and paper were less costly merit-building activities. It also facilitated worshipping and offering activities for Buddhist practitioners at home, shrines, and temples. Therefore, these were commonly used by people from high ranking officers, to middle and lower officials, and to ordinary citizens. Together with paintings in the caves, these silk and paper paintings were part of the organic components of Dunhuang Buddhist arts. Continue reading…
Mogao Cave 220 Overview (莫高窟第220窟)
Mogao Cave 220 is one of the most important early Tang dynasty caves. In 1943, after peeling off paintings of thousand Buddhas from the Song dynasty, the Dunhuang Academy exposed the well-preserved early Tang dynasty murals in the cave, together with ink inscriptions indicating the year 642 A.D. on the front and right walls, which provided evidence for the year of the mural paintings. Continue reading…
Prince Sattva Jataka Mural Painting (Cave 254)（萨埵王子本生故事壁画第254号窟）
Along the thousand of miles on the Silk Road, there is a treasure trove of humanity – the Mogao Grottoes. The devoutly religious worship and the thousand-years of construction made it full of history and magnificence. Built in the middle of the Northern Wei dynasty, Mogao Cave 254 completely preserved its original design from a thousand and five hundred years ago. Although the people who built the cave were long gone, their product lasted through history and communicates with us deeply inside. Continue reading…
King Shibi Jataka (Cave 254) (尸毗王割肉贸鸽本生故事第254号窟)
Shibi was the king of a great kingdom in ancient India. The kingdom had fertile lands, well established households, and adequately fed and clothed people. King Shibi was the ruler of eighty-four thousand smaller countries. He had twenty thousand concubines and maids, five hundred princes, and more than ten thousand ministers. King Shibi was a compassionate, benevolent, and rich king. Continue reading…
Conversion of the Five Hundred Bandits (Cave 285) (五百强盗成佛故事)
There were five hundred bandits in the ancient Kingdom of Kosala, located in south India. They robbed grain warehouses and rebelled against the government. The local government failed to capture them after multiple attempts. The king sent armies, after hearing the news, to suppress the bandits. Continue reading…
