After more than 1,000 years’ construction, there are nearly 600 existing … Today, we know their legacy as the Mogao Caves, or Thousand Buddha Grottos. The replica caves were selected for their diverse content, which provides a hint of the broad range of subjects and styles seen at Mogao. Originally used as a memorial cave for a local monk; a large number of documents dating from 406 to 1002 CE were found in the cave. Also discovered in the same cave were 1100 bundles of scrolls and 15,000 paper books.

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The Mogao Grottoes or Mogao Caves, also known as the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas, form a system of 492 temples 25 km southeast of the center of Dunhuang City, an oasis strategically located at a religious and cultural crossroads on the Silk Road, in Gansu Province. Painting on silk (Library Cave), Late Tang. The Mogao Caves or Mogao Grottoes, also known as the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas, form a system of 492 temples 25 km (16 mi) southeast of the center of Dunhuang, an oasis strategically located at a religious and cultural crossroads on the Silk Road, in Gansu province, China. ... "The caves were walled off" seems to confuse the cave complex (which was not walled off, although it was allowed to deteriorate) with the famous Library Cave (which was walled off around 1010). Discovery and revival Bodhisattva leading a lady towards the Pure Lands. In the extreme northwest of Gansu province lie the cliffs of Mogao, forming the eastern edge of Mount Mingsha and rising over the Dachuan River just 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) southeast of Dunhuang. Many of these caves were covered with murals and contain many Buddhist statues. Cave No.17, discovered by Wang Yuanlu, is also known as the Library Cave. There are 735 caves in Mogao, and the caves in Mogao are particularly noted for their Buddhist art, as well as the hoard of manuscripts, the Dunhuang manuscripts, found hidden in a sealed-up cave. It is the largest and most renowned treasure trove of Buddhist art in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discoveries continue to be found in the caves, including excerpts from a Christian "Holy Bible" dating to the Yuan Dynasty. Originally used as a memorial cave for a local monk; a large number of documents dating from 406 to 1002 CE were found in the cave. A network of plank reinforced roads plying north to south 1,600 meters (5,249 feet) long lead to the cave openings, which are stacked five stories high some reaching up to 50 meters (164 feet). The caves contain some of the finest examples of Buddhist art spanning a period of 1,000 years. Most of the Mogao caves were abandoned, the site however was still a place of pilgrimage and used as a place of worship by local people at the beginning of the twentieth century when there was renewed interest in the site. By the way, Mogao means high up in the desert. Several textiles like silk banners, altar hangings, wrappings and monk’s apparel were also discovered from the Library Cave. Who Built the Mogao Caves? Also discovered in the same cave were 1100 bundles of scrolls and 15,000 paper books.