September 17, 2015 Magao Caves

Today was a rest day, off the motorcycles.  We traveled by bus to the Magao Caves, also known as the "Caves of the Thousand Buddhas."

The caves date back to 366AD, and form a system of 492 temples.  They are the greatest repositories of Buddhist art in the world.  At its peak the caves housed eighteen monasteries and over 1,400 monks and nuns, as well as countless artists, translators and calligraphers.  Wealthy traders and important officials were the primary donors responsible for creating new caves.  Caravans mad the long detour past Mogao to pray or give thanks for a safe journey through the treacherous wastelands to the west.

The caves fell into disuse after the collapse of the Yuan Dynasty in the 14th century and were largely forgotten.  In the early 20th century they were "rediscovered" by foreign explorers.

Photographs are strictly prohibited, so there's not much to show you, but I encourage you to investigate and learn about these extraordinary "temple" caves.