Cave Temples of Mogao: Art and History on the Silk Road (Conservation & Cultural Heritage)
For 1000 years, from 366 C.E. to 1357 C.E., Buddhists in the isolated desert oasis of Dunhuang (or Tun-huang) dug a series of caves and decorated them with a vibrant array of wall frescoes and sculptures. On the western frontier of the powerful Chinese empire, Dunhuang was an important trading post on the Silk Road, the route by which Buddhism moved from India into Tibet and China. Called in Chinese Mogaoku ("Peerless Caves"), these places of veneration have been preserved by the dry climate and the depopulation of the area after the collapse of the silk route. Little known to the West until the early 20th century, the beautiful frescoes and the immense store of manuscripts (including the earliest wood block-printed text) are now recognized as a world treasure representing the remaining fraction of ancient Buddhist art that has long disappeared from less remote parts of China. Intended as an introduction for the general reader, this volume does not stint on history or religious explanation, but it never descends into pedantry. The photographs are gorgeous and because they are well lit will probably exceed the quality of what visitors will see on restricted-light tours. Having whetted our appetite with informative text and enthralling photos, the next step, the bibliography, is too short. Nevertheless, this book is recommended as a vibrant tour of a world treasure.DDavid McClelland, PhiladelphiaCopyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.