xi's moments
Home | Heritage

Technology shows Mogao Caves in a new light

By Zhang Kun | CHINA DAILY | Updated: 2024-10-11 08:16

The reproduction of statues of Buddha and Bodhisattva (central figure), from Mogao Cave No 423, crafted in the Western Wei Dynasty (535-556). GAO ERQIANG/CHINA DAILY

One of the exhibits is the Shengli Stele, a stone with an inscription recording the beginning of the construction of the grottoes.

The text on the stone reads that in 366, a virtuous monk named Lezun (or Yuezun) "arrived at the mountain and suddenly saw the burst of golden lights with the image of thousands of Buddha inside".Inspired by this, he constructed the first cave on the cliff. Later, Monk Faliang built a second cave beside Lezun's.

From then, new caves were dug and temples were built with statues carved and frescoes painted. The craftsmen drew inspiration from sutra classics and secular life, creating a diverse collection, from legendary immortals flying midair in dance poses to the parade of powerful patrons and life scenes of prestigious families.

|<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next   >>|
Global Edition
BACK TO THE TOP
Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
License for publishing multimedia online 0108263

Registration Number: 130349