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Mogao Grottoes

Mogao Grottoes

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The Mogao Grottoes, also known as "the Thousand Buddha Caves", and praised as "a glittering pearl that adorns the Silk Road", are the most famous Buddhist grottoes in China. Located 15km (10 mi) southeast of Dunhuang (25 km (16 mi) by road), these caves are carved out of the sandstone cliffs of the Singing Sand (Mingsha) Mountains.

The 1600 m (one mile) of grottoes in the south to north cliff were constructed in 10 dynasties from the 4th to the 14th century. The Mogao grottoes' 45,000 square meters (480,000 sq ft) of mural paintings and more than 2,000 color statues are regarded as the greatest treasure-house of Buddhist art existing in the world.

The first grotto was chiseled out in 366 AD. According to legend, a monk called Yue Zun dreamed of 1,000 golden Buddhas when he was traveling home across this region, and he decided to turn his dream into reality by painting them on the wall of a cave.

Over the next 1,000 years, 10 dynasties rose and fell, and artists of each dynasty contributed grottoes. Work on the grottoes ceased during the Yuan dynasty (1368–1644), and ever since the grottos have remained through for hundreds of years, protected from natural erosion by their cave location. Today, 492 caves are still standing. Altogether there are 2,000 statues and over 45,000 separate murals.

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2011-05-23
The Mogao Grottoes (Mogao Ku) also known as the Thousand Buddha Caves, constitute one of the three major Buddhist grotto sites in China. It is one of three noted grottoes in China and also the largest, best preserved and richest treasure house of Buddhist art ...Read More
2011-05-23
Kizil Grottoes/ Kizil Thousand-Buddha Caves Kizil Thousand-Buddha Caves is the earliest Buddhist art treasure trove in China, even one century earlier than the famous Mogao Grottoes. As fundamental historical remains of West Region art or Chinese Buddhist art, ...Read More
2011-05-23
Tombs of Wei and Jin Dynasty Located about 15 kilometers northeast of Jiayuguan, Wei-Jin Mural Brick Tomb is a big tomb group with over 1,400 tombs built between the 3rd Century and 5th Century during the Wei and Jin dynasties. Renowned as the largest ...Read More

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by Tricia 2011-05-23
Mogao Grottoes, also known as Thousand Buddha Grottoes, is located on the eastern slope of Echoing-Sand Mountain, 25 kilometers (15.5miles) from downtown Dunhuang County in Gansu Province. It is one of three noted grottoes in China and also the largest, best preserved and richest treasure house of Buddhist art in the world. "Mogao" means high up in the ...
by Eamnonn 2011-05-23
The Mogao Grottoes, commonly named Thousand-Buddha Caves, and praised as "a glittering pearl that adorns the Silk Road", are the most famous grottoes in China. Located 25km southeast of Dunhuang County, these caves are carved out of the sandstone cliffs of Mingsha Mountain, extending some 1600m from south to north. Constructed in 10 dynasties from the fourth ...
by Hortensio 2011-05-23
Mogao Grottoes/Mogao Caves Dunhuang Mogao Caves, also known as "Thousand Buddha Grottoes", are located at the rock side of the Singing Sand Mountain in Dunhuang city of Gansu Province. The 3 or 4 tier grottoes extend 1.6 kilometers. According to historical records, the Mogao Caves were carved in 366 AD. There are 492 grottoes in existence with some 45,000 ...