Chinese Art Treasures - Mogao Caves

Mogao Caves, commonly known as the "Caves of the Thousand Buddhas," are a representative group of the Dunhuang grottoes, renowned for their exquisite murals and sculptures. This Buddhist art treasure is the largest existing scale, the longest continuous construction period, and the richest content in the world.

Since the second year of  the Former Qin (AD 366), the excavation of the Mogao Caves spanned a millennium from the 5th to the 14th century. To date, the Mogao Caves preserve 492 caves adorned with murals and sculptures, covering a total mural area of 45,000 square meters and featuring over 3,000 colored statues.

It is widely believed among the populace that constructing Buddhist caves can accumulate personal merit, bring blessings, or avert disasters. This concept of "merit" not only propelled the spread of Buddhism in China but also inspired the imagination and creativity of artisans across generations. They created exquisite and profound forms and patterns, such as the reversed pipa playing and celestial musicians ascending, which not only reflect Buddhist doctrines but also became symbols of auspiciousness and culture.

The Dunhuang murals are not only a treasure of Chinese art history but also of world art history. They record the dissemination and development of Buddhist art and reflect the religious beliefs, cultural traditions, and aesthetic tastes of ancient Chinese society. These murals have a long history, dating back to the 4th century and spanning over 1,500 years. The content includes Buddha images, sutra transformation paintings, Buddhist story paintings, donor portraits, and decorative patterns, showcasing the profound cultural heritage of Dunhuang.

The artistic world of Dunhuang murals is so complex that it has formed a specialized discipline—Dunhuang Studies. When exploring the Dunhuang murals, I will try to search for the most famous and beautiful works to allow readers to more deeply appreciate the charm of the Dunhuang murals. However, for a more comprehensive and scientific understanding of all knowledge about Dunhuang, it is recommended that readers consult professional books. These books can provide more systematic and in-depth academic research and information.

Buddha Images

As religious art, these are the main part of the murals, including various Buddha images—Three Lifetime Buddhas, Seven Lifetime Buddhas, Shakyamuni, Many Treasures Buddha, Thousand Buddhas of the Virtuous Eon, etc.; various Bodhisattvas—Manjushri, Samantabhadra, Avalokiteshvara, Mahasthamaprapta, etc.; and the Eight Classes of Guardians—Heavenly Kings, Dragon Kings, Yakshas, Apsaras, Asuras, Garudas (King of the Golden-winged Birds), Kinnaras (Musical Deities), and Great Serpent Deities, etc. These Buddha images are mostly depicted in preaching scenes. There are 933 preaching scenes in the Mogao Caves murals, featuring 12,208 Buddha images with various expressions.

Buddha

- Early Tang - Mogao Caves, Cave 57, South Wall - Mural of Maitreya Preaching

- Northern Wei - Mogao Caves, Cave 259 - Meditating Buddha Statue

- Late Tang - Mogao Caves, Cave 14 - Akshobhya Buddha

Bodhisattva

Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva

Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva in Dunhuang murals symbolizes compassion and salvation. The image of Avalokiteshvara is often used as an amulet to seek the protection and blessings of the Bodhisattva. 

- Western Xia - Yulin Caves, Cave 2, West Wall, South Side - Water-Moon Avalokiteshvara

 - Late Tang - Mogao Caves, Cave 14, South Wall - Amoghapasha Avalokiteshvara

- Yuan Dynasty - Mogao Caves, Cave 3 - Thousand-Armed Thousand-Eyed Avalokiteshvara

Manjushri Bodhisattva (Wisdom)

- Five Dynasties - Mogao Caves, Cave 61 - Partial Map of Wutai Mountain

- Middle Tang - Mogao Caves, Cave 159 - Partial Manjushri Bodhisattva

- Western Xia - Yulin Caves, Cave 3 - Partial Manjushri Transformation

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva (Merit)

 - Western Xia - Yulin Caves, Cave 3 - Western Xia Mural "Samantabhadra Transformation"

Chief Bodhisattva

 - Late Tang - Mogao Caves, Cave 14 - Chief Bodhisattva

Vajra Mother Bodhisattva

- Late Tang - Mogao Caves, Cave 14 - Vajra Mother Bodhisattva

Eight Classes of Guardians

- Middle Tang - Mogao Caves, Cave 158 - Mural of the Eight Classes of Guardians

- Middle Tang - Yulin Caves, Cave 25 - Partial "Maitreya Sutra Transformation"

- Sui Dynasty - Mogao Caves, Cave 380, East Wall Door, North Side - Heavenly King 1 Full Body Image

 - Sui Dynasty - Mogao Caves, Cave 380, East Wall Door, South Side - Heavenly King 2 (Tower Holding, Wearing Bright Armor) Full Body Image

Buddhist Disciples

 - High Tang - Mogao Caves, Cave 217, West Wall Niche - Buddhist Disciple

Sutra Transformation Paintings

Using painting, literature, and other artistic forms to popularly and understandably represent profound Buddhist scriptures is called "Sutra Transformation." Paintings that represent the content of the scriptures are called "Transformation Images," i.e., Sutra Transformation Paintings; those represented through text and chanting are called "Transformation Texts."

Maitreya Sutra Transformation

- Tang Dynasty - Mogao Caves, Cave 329, North Wall - Maitreya Sutra Transformation

 - Middle Tang - Yulin Caves, Cave 25 - "Maitreya Sutra Transformation"

Oriental Medicine Buddha Sutra Transformation

- Early Tang - Cave 220, North Wall - Oriental Medicine Buddha Sutra

- Early Tang - Cave 220, North Wall - Detailed Depiction of the Musical and Dance Scene from Oriental Medicine Buddha Sutra

Lotus Sutra Transformation

 - Five Dynasties - Mogao Caves, Cave 61 - Lotus Sutra Transformation

Amitabha Sutra Transformation

 - Middle Tang - Yulin Caves, Cave 25, South Wall - Amitabha Sutra Transformation

- Middle Tang - Mogao Caves, Cave 112, South Wall, East Side - Partial "Amitabha Sutra Transformation"

Vimalakirti Sutra Transformation

 - Early Tang - Mogao Caves, Cave 220, Front Wall (East Wall) - Vimalakirti Sutra Transformation

 - Early Tang - Mogao Caves, Cave 220, Front Wall (East Wall) - Partial Emperor Listening to the Dharma in Vimalakirti Sutra Transformation 

Samantabhadra Transformation

 - Western Xia - Yulin Caves, Cave 3 - Samantabhadra Transformation

Manjushri Transformation

- Western Xia - Yulin Caves, Cave 3 - Manjushri Transformation

- Middle Tang - Yulin Caves, Cave 25, Main Room, West Wall, North Side - Manjushri Image

- Middle Tang - Mogao Caves, Cave 159 - Manjushri Transformation 

Story Paintings

Folk Tales

Zhang Yichao's Military Expedition

 - Late Tang - Mogao Caves, Cave 156 - Zhang Yichao's Military Expedition

Zhang Qian's Mission to the Western Regions

 - Early Tang - Mogao Caves, Cave 323 - Zhang Qian's Mission to the Western Regions

Religious Stories

To widely attract the masses and vigorously promote Buddhist scriptures and doctrines, it is necessary to convey the abstract and profound Buddhist classics and historical traces to the masses in a popular, concise, and vivid form, to inspire them and make them devoutly worship. Therefore, a large number of story paintings were created in the caves, allowing the masses to be subtly educated while viewing. The content of the story paintings is rich, the plots are touching, and the life atmosphere is strong, with an irresistible charm. They can be mainly divided into five categories: Buddha's Life Stories, Jataka Tales, Karmic Stories, Buddhist Historical Traces, and Parable Stories. 

Nighttime Escape from the City

When Shakyamuni was a prince, he was moved by the various sufferings of birth, aging, sickness, and death in the world. To seek a method to relieve all sufferings, he decided to abandon his royal life. One night, he rode a horse to cross the city of Kapilavastu and went into the mountains to practice. The painting is complex, with rich and gorgeous colors. (There are multiple painting versions)

 - Sui Dynasty - Mogao Caves, Cave 278, West Wall - Nighttime Escape from the City 

 - Early Tang - Mogao Caves, Cave 329 - Nighttime Escape from the City

Entering the Womb on an Elephant 

- Early Tang - Mogao Caves, Cave 329 - Entering the Womb on an Elephant 

Deer King Jataka

The "Deer King Jataka" was created during the Northern Wei period, mainly telling the story of Shakyamuni's previous life as a beautiful nine-colored deer king, who saved a person who was about to drown in the water but was betrayed by this person. This story is highly religious in color and has a strong symbolic meaning. The selfless spirit of self-sacrifice is worthy of praise by later generations. The story promotes justice, praises great and noble virtues, condemns the evil soul of ingratitude, and further promotes the idea of good deeds being rewarded and evil deeds being punished.

- Northern Wei - Mogao Caves, Cave 257, Mural - Deer King Jataka

The nine-colored deer is a famous story image in Dunhuang murals, symbolizing kindness and justice. The story of the nine-colored deer conveys the compassion and spirit of sacrifice in Buddhism, and its image is often used as a lucky charm to seek good fortune and protection. 

Sattva Prince Feeding Himself to the Tiger

- Northern Zhou - Mogao Caves, Cave 428 - Sattva Prince Feeding Himself to the Tiger

Xuanzang's Journey to the West

- Western Xia - Yulin Caves, Cave 3 - Partial Mural "Samantabhadra Transformation" - Journey to the West 

Five Hundred Bandits Becoming Buddhas

- Western Wei - Mogao Caves, Cave 285, South Wall - Five Hundred Bandits Becoming Buddhas

Traditional Deities and Monsters

- Late Tang - Mogao Caves, Cave 9 - Huayan Sutra Transformation, Sun Wheel, Yangwu

- Five Dynasties - Mogao Caves, Cave 35 - Eleven-Faced Avalokiteshvara Sutra Transformation, Sun Wheel, Three-Legged Crow

 - Western Wei - Mogao Caves, Cave 285, West Wall - Fuxi and Nüwa

Donor Portraits

Donors, also known as patrons, are those who funded the construction of the grottoes out of their Buddhist faith. To express their devout belief and leave a name for posterity, they had their own and their family members', relatives', and servants' portraits painted inside the caves, which are called donor portraits.

Royal Donors

- Five Dynasties - Mogao Caves, Cave 98 - King Li Shengtian of Khotan and Lady Cao

 - Western Xia (controversial) - Mogao Caves, Cave 409 - Uighur Princess Donor Portrait

 - Mogao Caves, Cave 409 - Uighur King Donor Portrait

 - Five Dynasties - Mogao Caves, Cave 61 - Uighur Princess Longxi Lady Li and Others Donor Portrait

 - Five Dynasties - Mogao Caves, Cave 19 - Lady of Liang Donor Portrait

Official Donors

 - Early Tang - Mogao Caves, Cave 220, North Wall of the Corridor - Lady Zhai Donor Portrait

- Five Dynasties - Yulin Caves, Cave 16, North Wall of the Corridor - Lady Cao Yijin Donor Portrait (in Uighur Princess attire)

- Five Dynasties - Mogao Caves, Cave 98 - New Bride Donor Portrait (daughter-in-law of Cao Yijin)

Other Donors

- North Zhou - Mogao Caves, Cave 428, South Side of the East Wall - Row of Donor Portraits

- Sui Dynasty - Mogao Caves, Cave 398, West Wall Niche - Donor Child 1

- Sui Dynasty - Mogao Caves, Cave 389 - Two Female Donors