Silk Road

Travel to China

Dunhuang Grottoes - it is a pearl on the ancient Silk Road.

Since ancient times, near the snowy mountains Tsilyanshan, including the Gobi Desert on both banks of the river Danhe having a green oasis, where settled vedshie various nomadic tribes. In 121 BC Hesiysky corridor was included in the territory, which extended the power Western Han Dynasty. It began to settle the inhabitants of the Central Plain, destined for the party of the party here on Hesiyskomu corridor, with the largest group of immigrants consisted of more than 700 thousand people. Through the establishment of irrigation systems and expansion of arable land, they turned the large area of desert into fertile fields. Increased in the number of houses with courtyards, there were villages and small towns.

In the 2 century BC, Han emperor sent Zhang Udi Tsyanya Ambassador to the Western Territory, Hesiyskom one corridor after another was formed of four administrative units "Jun". Dunhuang was the westernmost of these, there were constructed two fortress-outpost: Yuymenguan and Yanguan. After it went on yanguanskomu Route caravans of camels and horses.

Han culture, which emerged here in the Western Han dynasty, was to take root, flourish and bear fruit. Even more development, she has received in the Wei and Jin dynasties. Tillage was conducted with the help of oxen, widespread Chinese characters. With regard to the fine arts and architecture, they were almost at the same level as in the Central Plains. Here preached the teachings of their famous Confucian scholars. In their schools, several thousand people. In Wei and Jin dynasties in this region has become increasingly spread Buddhism. Zhu Fahu called "dunhuangskim Bodisatvoy", was born Zhouchzhi. His Rodić from generation to generation, lived in Dunhuang. He himself was eight years old together with her teacher left in the western region, where he studied many languages. In Dunhuang he brought the Buddhist canon in Sanskrit language, which then became a convert and preach. About a month in Dunhuang lived Fasyan famous Buddhist monk, traveled to the west, to India via the Pamirs. In the era of Suy and Tang in Dunhuang three routes converge, this branch of the Silk Road ran. Silk Road Chinese culture and products, particularly silk, penetrated to Central Asia and Europe. At the same time, foreign culture, especially Buddhism and Buddhist art of India, began to spread in the western territories that were administered by China. Gradually, by Hesiyskomu corridor Buddhism entered the central plain. This process showed extant on the Silk Road many attractions - cave temples.

The largest and most well-preserved of these are Dunhuang Grottoes. Dunhuang Grottoes temples have no equal as in the richness of their sculptures and paintings of monuments, and on the long history of building. This - the brightest jewel in the treasure of Chinese national art, as well as the domain of cultural heritage of all mankind. In Dunhuang Grottoes includes Mogaoskie, Yuylinskie and western Tsyanfodunskie caves, among which Mogaoskie cave is considered the most valuable. In July 1990, UNESCO included Mogaoskie cave Dunhuang in the Catalog of World Cultural Heritage.

Begin construction of Mogaoskih cave temples dating from 366 a year. The construction is not stopped for ten centuries. Currently there are 494 caves, more than two thousand painted statues of Buddhist saints. Wall paintings occupy 45 thousand square meters. In addition, there is kept around 50 thousand manuscripts, and other values found in the cave Tsantszindun, serves as a repository of sacred books. Among them, about 1000 drawings on silk, prints, embroidery and calligraphy samples. If you put all the frescoes, statues and paintings on silk in a row, then its length exceeds 25 kilometers. Perhaps no art gallery world can not compare in scope with dunhuanskoy.

Cave Temples represent a model of harmonious connections in one area of architectural, sculptural and fresco art. For believers, they serve as a place of religious items, for others - a magical temple, giving the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful.

The architecture represented a form of cave temples, which vary in different periods: the wooden eaves, vodruzhennymi of some caves Sunskoy Tanskoy and dynasties, architecture, shown in the frescoes. They can see the imperial palaces, pavilions, Terema home and commoners - a panorama of architectural styles, successive over thousands of years.

Sculpture is represented Dunhuang painted statues of Buddhist saints, Buddhas, bodisatv and their students. Field work inspired by Buddhist legends, but they can be judged on the state of the art of sculpture in China in the Middle Ages.

Especially Dunhuang richly represented in the mural painting. Case Murals can be divided into seven sections:

First. The most extensive section represent portraits of the saints - the Buddha, bodisatv etc.

Second. Paintings on the theme of Buddhist canons. For example, the scene of the biographies of Shakya Muni, and others.

Third. The paintings on the themes drawn from Chinese folk legends, such as the legend of the pioneer in the human race, and Fu-si-wa Nyuy.

Fourth. Paintings on the theme of Buddhist legend of the "pure land" - Paradise on metamorphosis Maitreya and other saints.

Fifth. The pictures, which show the true events in the history of the spread of Buddhism. For example, Zhang Tsyanya trip in the Western lands, the picture the moment when the Sui emperor greets Vendi Tan Yan, nisposlanie prayer for rain.

Sixth. Members of the decorative elements of ornaments depicting plants, animals, astronomical phenomena, geometric shapes and more.

Seventh. Pictures of real people - pozhertvovateley and builders of churches: Emperors, dignitaries, representatives of the nobility, peasants, slaves, people of different nationalities. A rich portrait gallery.