The incredible treasure trove of Buddhist art at the Mogao Caves in China is this week’s image of the week.
I had the opportunity to visit the Mogao Caves last year, and I can tell you that they are a sight to behold. These caves are fascinating for anybody with any kind of interest in religious art in general. But what are they?
The Mogao Caves or Mogao Grottoes, also known as the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas, form a system of 492 temples, near the town of Dunhuang in Central China. The caves were constructed from as early as the 4th century, and contain some of the finest examples of Buddhist art spanning a period of 1,000 years. And the settlement itself is an oasis strategically located at a religious and cultural crossroads on the Silk Road.
Our image of the week is a modern image taken inside one of the caves. In it we can see terra cotta statues bathed in daylight. The statues, now starting to degrade in age, are in front of resplendent colors. Blues and purples and creams.
The image is from Rajesh Dogra.
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George Levrier-Jones