Mogao, Dunhuang

Buddha Caves

One of the key highlights on the Silk Road, the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang is a series of caves with carvings to honour and help spread Buddhism.  The caves originated from a monk who saw a vision of a thousand Buddhas at the site way back in the 4th Century.  Over the course of a thousand years, monks and families of many dynasties took ownership of the caves to create elaborate paintings and statutes.  The different expressions on the Buddhas reflect the happenings and trends through each dynasty.  Unfortunately, many of the paintings on the caves have been destroyed both purposely and by weathering.  Today, doors have been created to the entrances of the caves to help protect what currently exists.  The site was a key pilgrimage point for many, especially during the Tang dynasty as trade on the Silk Road thrived, but it wasn’t until the caves were re-discovered by explorers in the 18th century that interest was renewed.  

On the outside the caves appear to be holes in rock and mud built structures but what lie inside are beautiful and such detailed drawings, murals and statutes.  The largest structure is the 35 metre sleeping Buddha, depicting a serene face and a body reclining in a relaxed state.  Some of the statutes seem to come alive, especially with the eyes decorated with precious stones that glisten in the dark.  But over the years, many of the precious stones have been stolen by thieves that have dug up anything that seemed valuable and the majority of the manuscripts showcasing Buddhist wisdom and the spread of Buddhism which were hidden in the Library Cave have disappeared.  It wasn’t until many years later that people saw the value in the lost cultural heritage.  Today, there is much more careful monitoring of the caves to prevent further damage, such as not allowing tourists to take pictures, using technologies to provide lighting that won’t damage murals and constantly measuring temperatures and cracks in walls.  But there are plans to potentially develop the site into a massive tourism attraction with everything from hotels to outdoor theatres.  In the extreme desert weather that the Mogao Caves are located, visiting the site at present is already no easy task, let alone the very first hermit monks who have come to the caves to meditate and study and the artists who have carved intricate murals by hand over hundreds of years.  It was no easy task to create the Mogao Caves and is a site that needs to be continually protected for its history and heritage.