The Arts of Dunhuang
1 min readThe Mogao Caves or Mogao Grottoes,formed by a system of 492 temples,25 kilometers southeast of the center of Dunhuang,is an oasis strategically located at a religious and cultural crossroad on the Silk Road,in Gansu Province,China.
According to Tang Dynasty records,a monk had witnessed onsite a vision of thousand Buddhas under showers of golden rays. Thus inspired,he started the caves construction work that spanned ten dynasties.Mogao Caves are commonly known as the Caves of a Thousand Buddhas.
Buddhist art has its origins in India.Mogao sculptors Improvised where the rock surface did not work well under their chisels.They placed clay statues in front of the cave walls,carved reliet murals as backdrops,and painted the sidewalls and ceilings with art decors.The largest statue is 34.5 meters high and the smallest is mere 2 centimeters high.
The art of Dunhuang covers more than ten major genres ,such as architecture,stucco sculpture,wall paintings,silk paintings,calligraphy,woodblock printing,embroidery,literature, music and dance,and popular entertainment.
