| A Glimpse of the Mogao Caves
Cave No. 451
Period of Construction: Sui
(renovated in Song).
Contents: The niche on the west wall
has halos and floating clouds. Miniature Buddhas drawn in Sui are on the north side
outside the niche.
Cave No. 452
Period of Construction: Song.
Contents: The ceiling of the niche on
the west wall has a painting of backscreen flanked by eight disciples. All these are
damaged. The south and north walls illustrate Amit¡bha-S£tra and
BhaiÀajyaguru-S£tra respectively.
Cave No. 453
Period of Construction: Sui Dynasty.
Contents: The inner layer of the niche
on the west wall shows halos. The north wall features miniature Buddhas which are damaged
partially.
Cave No. 454
Period of Construction: Song (renovated
during Qing).
Contents: Ante-room: The west
slope of the ceiling carries a damaged portrait of Maµju¿r¢. Above the entrance of the
west wall is a niche, drawn inside it are three pictures of Avalokite¿vara flanked by
pictures of Maµju¿r¢
and Samantabhadra. To the north and south of the entrance are the
Buddhas of the ten directions attending sermon; below them is Vai¿rava¸a attending
Nata’s sermon. The top portion of the south wall shows Buddhas of the ten directions
attending sermon. The lower portion of the wall is blurred.
Corridor: Traces of the history
of Buddhism can be seen in the centre of the ceiling; the north and south slopes feature
sixteen auspicious symbols. Seven male donors from the Cao family figure in a row on the
south wall; seen behind them are three attendants. Painted in a row on the north wall are
eight male donors; attendants are seen behind them.
Main Hall: Above the central
Buddha platform are statues of twelve figures of issue-giving goddesses cast in Qing. The
west, south and north sides show rockery and a six-panel screen with birds and flowers.
The caisson ceiling shows damaged coiled dragons in the centre; the east slope illustrates
the Maitreya-S£tra and south and west slopes illustrate the
Saddharma-pu¸·ar¢ka-S£tra and the
St£pa Sandarsana parivartana, while the north
slope illustrates the Avatamsaka
S£tra. On the south wall, west-east- wards are the
illustrations of the La¸k¡vat¡ra-S£tra, the
Amit¡yus-S£tra,
S£tra
for Redemption from Indebtedness and Devat¡-S£tra. The west wall illustrates the
fight between S¡riputra and
Raudr¡kÀa. Below this scene is the description of
the story of Prince Sudh¡na and Buddhist commentaries. On the north wall
west-eastwards are illustrations of the S£tra of
á¡kyamuni mastering the
dh¡ran¢s, Vi¿eÀacint¡brahma-parip¤cch¡-S£tra and
BhaiÀajyaguru-S£tra flanked by the nine inauspicious deaths and twelve great vows.
Below these s£tra illustrations are screens painted with Buddhist commentaries. Below
the illustration of the BhaiÀajyaguru-S£tra are seven female donors; an illustration of
the Suvar¸a-prabh¡sa-S£tra; below this illustration are six donors. Above the
entrance of the east wall are illustrations of Buddhaloka from the
Vimalak¢rti-nirde¿a-S£tra. To the south and north are illustrations of the
Vimalak¢rti-nirde¿a-S£tra with one side showing
Vimalak¢rti and the other showing Maµju¿r¢. Below are depicted the King of Khotan along with six donors and princess of
Uighur along with six donors and two bhikÀun¢s.
Cave No. 455
Period of Construction: Sui Dynasty.
Contents: The inner layer of the niche
on the west wall shows halos. On both sides of the west wall on the outer layer are the
niche lintels; the niche column has damaged paintings. Each of the north and south walls
features four disciples.
Cave No. 456
Period of Construction: Sui (renovated
in Song).
Contents: Corridor: The ceiling
depicts the Peacock King drawn in Song; both the north and south slopes feature three
cross-legged sitting Buddhas.
Main Hall: On the east and west
slopes of the ceiling are paintings of Buddhas of the ten directions attending sermon. The
ceiling of the niche on the west wall is covered by chess-board and four-petalled flower
designs. The east slope features two flying figures while the north, south and west slopes
have twelve portraits of sitting Buddha. The north wall illustrates the Suvar¸a-prabh¡sa-S£tra drawn in Song. The lower layer is painted with miniature
Buddhas drawn in Sui. Above the entrance of the east wall is a portrait of flower-holding Avalokite¿vara; to the north and south are the portraits of
KÀitigarbha and eight-armed
Avalokite¿vara
respectively.
Cave No. 457
Period of Construction: Sui (renovated
in Song).
Contents: The ceiling of the niche on
the west wall displays floral patterns in the centre; the north, south and west slopes are
covered by decorative hangings. The lower layer of the south wall has a painting belonging
to Sui; the surface layer shows a damaged painting drawn in Song.
Cave No. 458
Period of Construction: High Tang
(renovated in Western Xia).
Contents: The west wall niche shelters
statues of a cross-legged sitting Buddha, two each of disciples, bodhisattvas,
devar¡jas and bodhisattvas sculpted in High Tang. Outside the niche, on the upper
portion of the north side of the platform is a statue of heavenly animal. Further away on
the south there are fragments of High Tang paintings, and that of BhaiÀajyaguru painted
in Western xia on the north. Preaching scenes drawn in Western Xia are described on the
north wall.
Cave No. 459
Period of Construction: Late Tang
(renovated in Song).
Contents: The niche on the west wall
houses statues of a damaged Buddha, two disciples, one bodhisattva and one
devar¡ja
cast in Late Tang and two damaged statues cast in Song. The south wall illustrates the
LaÆk¡vat¡ra-S£tra drawn in Late Tang. The north wall has remnants of a corner
of the illustration of the Saddharma-pu¸·ar¢ka-S£tra.
Cave No. 460
Period of Construction: High Tang
(renovated in Western Xia).
Contents: Ante-room: Art designs
of flames and lotus painted in Western Xia are seen on the ceiling. Only five of the seven
Buddhas drawn in Western Xia are seen above the entrance of the west wall. To the south of
the entrance are Maµju¿r¢ and a bodhisattva. To the north is Samantabhadra. The south
wall features a flying figure which is partially damaged. All these are drawn in Western
Xia.
Corridor: The centre of the
ceiling shows flowers and clouds; the north and south slopes are covered by decorative
hangings. The paintings were drawn in Western Xia.
Main Hall: The east slope of the
ceiling shows the chess-board and floral designs in a corner, the south slope is painted
with chess-board and floral patterns, decorative hangings and six flying figures, the west
slope is adorned with decorative hangings and two flying figures and the north slope is
covered by the chess-board and floral patterns, decorative hangings and a flying figure.
The platform on the west wall has statues of the sitting Buddha, two each of disciples,
bodhisattvas and devar¡jas cast in High Tang; on the west side below the platform are
lotus and phoenix bird. The upper portion of the west wall shows canopy of bodhi-ratna,
flying figures, halo and flowers. A preaching scene is featured on the west side of the
upper portion of the north and south walls; below it on both the walls is a bodhisattva.
The upper portion of the east side illustrates the Sukh¡vat¢-S£tra drawn in
Western Xia; below this drawn inside the bottle- shaped door is a flaming pearl. To the
south of the entrance on the east wall is a preaching scene and the thousand-armed and
eyed Avalokite¿vara, and below this inside the bottle- shaped door is a flaming pearl.
The north side also has a preaching scene and thousand-armed Maµju¿r¢ with thousand
bowls. Inside the bottle- shaped door is a flaming pearl. All these are of Western Xia.
Cave No. 461
Period of Construction: Western Wei.
Contents: The centre of the caisson
ceiling shows four lotus flowers; the four slopes are painted with decorative hangings.
The centre of the west slope is painted with the ma¸i and pearl, on either side are two
musicians. The south slope has four flying figures and musicians and the north slope shows
five musicians. Celestial palace railings and walls are drawn at a lower level on the
north, south and west slopes. The upper portion of the west wall is painted with
decorative hangings, and the middle portion has á¡kyamuni and
Prabh£taratna. The
lintel of the niche depicts the story of Samaka and below it are drawn a throne, a male
and three female donors; to the north and south are the altar columns tied with silk, five
Buddhist disciples and two bodhisattvas. The north and south walls are covered by
miniature Buddhas and below them is a border design.
Cave No. 462
Period of Construction: Yuan Dynasty.
Contents: The upper portion of the west
wall shows impressions of statues, the lower portion has a damaged Buddha throne, chestnut
lines and lotus designs, on the lower portion of the eastern side of the north wall are
four donors.
Cave No. 463
Period of Construction: Yuan Dynasty.
Contents: The ceiling has lotus designs
in the centre. Figures of five Buddhas and three bodhisattvas are painted on the upper
portion of the west wall; the south wall features a portrait of Maµju¿r¢, the top
portion shows three disciples, the middle portion a monk, two donors, a lion and a slave.
The north wall displays Samantabhadra and three female donors. Above the entrance on the
east wall are the tantric designs and both the north and south sides of the entrance have
four-armed vajras.
Cave No. 464
Period of Construction: Western Xia
(renovated in Yuan).
Contents: Ante-room: A corner of
the south slope of the ceiling is covered by miniature Buddhas. The north and south walls
feature narrative paintings. The west end was sealed during Yuan. Paintings in this room
belong to the Yuan.
Corridor: Miniature Buddhas
cover the ceiling; the lower layer has a mural drawn during Western Xia. The north and
south walls have portraits of four bodhisattvas.
Main Hall:
The centre of the
caisson ceiling shows the figure of a cross-legged sitting Buddha; the four slopes have
the portrait of a sitting Buddha each. The west wall shows an eight-panel screen with
figures of Buddha, disciples, devar¡jas with Indra preaching in the centre painted on
the panels. The south wall has a six-panel screen with depictions of á¡kya king,
vajras, devar¡jas
and disciples in the centre preaching the dharma. The north wall
also shows a six-panel screen with figures of Buddha, dev¡s,
devar¡jas and Indra
in the centre preaching the dharma. Above the entrance on the east wall is inscribed the
six-word mantra. To the north and south of the entrance is an inscription in Mongolian
script. On the south side of the entrance at the lower level are patterns drawn in Western
Xia.
Cave No. 465
Period of Construction: Yuan Dynasty.
Contents: Ante-room: Above the
entrance on the west wall is the image of a bodhisattva. Painted on the north and south
sides of the entrance is pagoda. The north and south walls also feature pagodas.
Corridor: The ceiling shows
floating clouds; the north and south walls are painted with peony flowers.
Main Hall: The caisson ceiling
has a portrait of Mah¡vairocana; the east slope has
AkÀobhya Buddha, the south
Ratnasambhava Buddha. On the west slope is
Amit¡yus Buddha and on the north is
Amoghasiddhi. The north, south and west walls have illustrations of three mandalas. Above
the entrance on the east wall are figures of five vajras and four donor bhikÀus. To the
south of the entrance is a mandala depiction showing three groups of mule kings and four
flame throwing children and below this a six-panel screen, to the north of the entrance is
a mandala and 24 Vin¡yakas.
Cave No. 466
Period of Construction: Tang Dynasty.
Contents: This cave is located below
Cave No. 47 and was discovered in 1948. All the murals are destroyed.
Cave No. 467
Period of Construction: Middle Tang
(renovated during the Five Dynasties and Song).
Contents: Corridor: The ceiling
shows flower clusters in the centre. The lower layer has a damaged painting drawn in the
Five Dynasties. The north and south slopes are covered by decorative hangings; the lower
level features cross-legged sitting Buddhas drawn during the Five Dynasties.
Main Hall: The ceiling shows coiled
dragon designs in the centre; the four slopes are painted with circular lines, chess-board
patterns and the floral motifs. The ceiling of the niche on the west wall has floral
motifs in the centre; the four slopes are painted with decorative hangings. The north and
south walls have decorative hangings on the upper part, miniature Buddhas in the middle
portion; the lower portion is blurred. The space above the entrance on the east wall is
covered by decorative hangings, with miniature Buddhas below and the lower layer reveals a
preaching scene drawn in the Five Dynasties. On the north and south sides of the entrance
are miniature Buddhas.
This cave was discovered in 1946.
Cave No. 468
Period of Construction: Middle Tang
(renovated during the Five Dynasties).
Contents: Ante-room: The ceiling
is painted with miniature Buddhas. Above the entrance of the west wall is an invocation
inscribed during the Five Dynasties. On the north and south sides of the entrance are
portraits of Vajra warriors, one to a side. The top portion of the south wall displays a
painting drawn in the Five Dynasties and the lower portion shows three male donors. The
top portion of the north wall features a mural of the Five Dynasties while the lower part
shows three female donors.
Corridor: The ceiling shows a
sitting Bodhisattva drawn in the Five Dynasties.
Main Hall:
The centre of caisson
ceiling has three rabbits (joining as one) and a lotus design; the four slopes are painted
with decorative hangings and garlands; the west slope illustrates the chapters from the
Saddharma-pu¸·ar¢ka-S£tra; the two corners have the Chapter on Universal Gate of
Avalokite¿vara; the north and south slopes illustrate the thirty-three manifestations in
the Chapter on the Universal Gate of Avalokite¿vara from the
Saddharma-pu¸·ar¢ka-S£tra. The east slope illustrates chapter of
St£pa sandarsana
parivartana of the Saddharma-pu¸·ar¢ka-S£tra while the two corners have the Chapter
on Universal Gate. The niche on the west wall houses statues of a bodhisattva and two
disciples cast in Middle Tang. The south wall illustrates the
Amit¡yur-dhy¡na-S£tra drawn in the Five Dynasties with the sixteen meditations
on the east side and Aj¡ta¿atru on the west. The north wall illustrates the
BhaiÀajyaguru-S£tra, the east and west sides show scenes from the nine inauspicious
deaths and twelve great vows respectively and below this illustration is a throne. Above
the entrance on the east wall are male and female donors drawn in the Five Dynasties. To
the south of the entrance is a preaching scene of the Five Dynasties and below this is a
portrait of Amoghap¡¿a
Avalokite¿vara; further below it is a throne. To the north
of the entrance is a preaching scene drawn in the Five Dynasties, below it is the portrait
of Cint¡ma¸i-Cakra
Avalokite¿vara; further below it is a throne.
Cave No. 469
Period of Construction: Middle Tang
(renovated during the Five Dynasties).
Contents: Corridor: The east and
west walls feature portraits of Bodhisattva Mah¡sth¡mapr¡pta and
Avalokite¿vara respectively.
This cave was discovered in 1952 and is
south-facing.
Cave No. 470
Period of Construction: Late Tang
(renovated in Song).
Contents: The west slope of the ceiling
is covered by miniature Buddhas having a cross-legged sitting Buddha in the centre; the
south slope shows partially damaged miniature Buddhas; the north slope displays miniature
Buddhas, floral motifs and decorative hangings. The ceiling of the niche on the west wall
has floral designs in the centre; on the four slopes are eleven standing Buddhas and two
bodhisattvas. The south wall illustrates two s£tras; the west corner has a portrait of
the thousand-armed and thousand-eyed Avalokite¿vara. Below are male and female donors
drawn in Song. The north wall illustrates two s£tras. On the south side of the entrance
on the east wall is a damaged painting of female donors drawn in Song.
Cave No. 471
Period of Construction: Middle Tang.
Contents: The ceiling in the main hall
is peeling off. The niche on the west wall exhibits chess-board and floral designs in the
centre; the four slopes have portraits of thirteen BhaiÀajyaguru Buddhas and four
bodhisattvas. On the south wall west-eastwards is the illustration of
Amit¡bha-S£tra, on the north wall west-eastwards are the damaged illustrations of BhaiÀajyaguru-S£tra and Avatamsaka-S£tra. Painted above the entrance of the east
wall are male donors; to the north is the portrait of Cint¡ma¸i-Cakra
Avalokite¿vara.
This cave was discovered in 1953.
Cave No. 472
Period of Construction: Middle Tang.
Contents: The west slope of the niche
on the west wall contains a standing Buddha and an Aupap¡daka, the north, south and
east slopes have an incomplete painting each. The south wall illustrates the
Saddharma-pu¸·ar¢ka-S£tra. The upper portion of the north wall painted with floral
motifs and the border designs is damaged. The middle portion illustrates the
Avatamsaka-S£tra. To the south of the entrance on the east wall is the
Avalokite¿vara-S£tra, below it is a cross-legged sitting bodhisattva and the north side
also illustrates the Avalokite¿vara-S£tra.
Cave No. 473
Period of Construction: Late Tang.
Contents: On the top portion of the
west wall of the niche on the west wall are floral motifs and decorative hangings, and
below these is a two-panel screen; the middle portion features halo. The top portion of
the north and south walls has floral motifs and decorative hangings; below these is a
two-panel screen. The south wall illustrates the Amit¡yus-S£tra, on the west side
are the sixteen meditations; the north wall illustrates the BhaiÀajyaguru-S£tra, the
twelve great vows are on the west side.
Cave No. 474
Period of Construction: Middle Tang
(renovated in the Five Dynasties).
Contents: The north, south and west
slopes are covered by miniature Buddhas drawn in Middle Tang having a preaching scene in
the centre. The niche on the west wall shows chess-board and floral designs painted in
Middle Tang. The east slope has six sitting Buddhas, a bodhisattva, and an
Aupap¡daka; the south and north slopes have three sitting Buddhas, a bodhisattva and
an Aupap¡daka; the west slope has six sitting Buddhas and two bodhisattvas, all drawn
in Middle Tang. There are s£tra-illustrations on the south wall; the north wall
illustrates the BhaiÀajyaguru-S£tra; both these are drawn in the Five Dynasties.
This cave was excavated in 1953.
Cave No. 475
Period of Construction: Middle Tang
(renovated during the Five Dynasties).
Contents: The south wall features a
damaged painting, below are donors drawn in the Five Dynasties. The north wall features a
damaged preaching scene; below it is a painting of donors drawn in the same period.
Cave No. 476
Period of Construction: The Five
Dynasties.
Contents: On the north side of the west
wall are four bhik¦us.
Cave No. 477
Period of Construction: Renovated in
Yuan Dynasty.
Contents: Horse-hoof shaped Buddha
platform in the centre; drawn inside the bottle-shaped door are a flaming pearl and
partially damaged floral motifs on the ceiling. The top portions of the north, south and
west walls are covered by floral designs. The middle portion of these walls shows damaged
statues.
Cave No. 478
Period of Construction: Middle Tang
(renovated in Song).
Contents: The niche on the west wall
has floral designs drawn in Song. The north wall displays s£tra-illustrations drawn in
Middle Tang which are partially damaged.
This cave was excavated in 1957.
Cave No. 479
Period of Construction: Middle Tang.
Contents: The west and south corners of
the niche on the west wall reveal decorative hangings. The north wall has a preaching
scene while south and east walls have damaged paintings.
Cave No. 480
Period of Construction: Not known.
Contents: The west wall of the niche on
the west wall shows a damaged halo.
This cave was excavated in 1957.
Cave No. 481
Period of Construction: Not known.
Contents: The niche on the west wall
has traces of halo.
Cave No. 482
Period of Construction: High Tang.
Contents: The niche on the west wall
houses a set of five Buddha statues; outside the niche on the two sides of the platform
are statues of two warriors. The paintings on the north and south walls are damaged.
Cave No. 483
Period of Construction: High Tang
(renovated during the Five Dynasties).
Contents: The niche on the west wall
has a damaged Buddha statue. The decorative hangings on the south wall are damaged.
This cave was excavated in 1957.
Cave No. 484
Period of Construction: High Tang.
Contents: The caisson ceiling in the
main hall has floral designs; the south and west slopes have a damaged painting of
miniature Buddhas. The south and west walls have a damaged painting drawn in Middle Tang.
Cave No. 485
Period of Construction: Not known.
Contents: There are three niches on the
west wall. This cave is above Cave No. 83, and below Cave No. 84.
Cave No. 486
Period of Construction: Not known.
Contents: This is actually Cave No.
485. There was a mistake of counting the same cave as two different caves.
Cave No. 487
Period of Construction: Not known.
Contents: There are three niches on the
south wall and four on the north wall, all the niches are damaged. This cave is below Cave
No. 467 and was probably renovated in Northern Wei.
Cave No. 488
Period of Construction: Not known
(renovated probably before Tang).
Contents: There is a small rectangular
niche on the top portion of the north wall near the east slope of the ceiling.
Cave No. 489
Period of Construction: Not known.
Contents: There is a small niche near
the ceiling on the north wall. This cave is below Cave No. 481.
Cave No. 490
Period of Construction: High Tang.
Contents: The centre of the caisson
ceiling has been damaged. The north, south and west slopes show floral designs and
decorative hangings. While the west slope is covered with miniature Buddhas, the north and
south slopes are covered by miniature Buddhas that are damaged. The west wall shows a
damaged portrait of Buddha, disciples and head of bodhisattva. The north wall has a
disciple and the head of a bodhisattva.
Cave No. 491
Period of Construction: Western Xia.
Contents: This cave was discovered in
1965. Initially there was a Buddha statue in padm¡sana and statues of two
devakany¡s (some think that they are female donors). These are now stored in the
Dunhuang Academy of Cultural Relics.
Cave No. 492
Period of Construction: High Tang.
Contents: This cave is locatd on the
south, outside Cave No. 54. On the wall inside the niche there are fragments of sculptures
in relief.
Compiled by Bagyalakshmi and B.R. Deepak
Note: All the identifications mentioned
above are according to the research of the
Dunhuang Academy unless otherwise
specified. ---Editor
Cave Nos. [ 1 - 50
| 51 - 100 | 101
- 150 | 151 - 200 | 201 - 250 ]
[ 251 - 300
| 301 - 350 | 351
- 400 | 401 - 450 | 451 - 492 ]
|
