The Organisation and Religion to Re-unite All Religions

THE MOGOA CAVES

Where the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts meet, there are, what is known as the Mogoa Caves. 

These caves house what is probably the world’s greatest Buddhist art.  The caves are to be found in China on the old Silk Road within a one-mile long stretch of cliff. This was for many centuries the link between China and the West.  There are around 735 caves within this cliff, for which some are just plain, yet many contain what amounts to around 400,000 sq. ft. of paintings, and around 2000 painted clay sculptures.

A monk discovered these cave sometime around 1900.  This was a chance discovery, and found a cave, which housed more than 50,000 scroll paintings and manuscripts.  These paintings and manuscripts had been long forgotten.

Some years later the monk was talked into selling this treasure for a very small sum.  These scrolls and manuscripts were then distributed to libraries and museums worldwide, which would bring resentment from the Chinese.  However this dispersal was in a way a godsend as it kept them from being destroyed over the years when China had social upheavals and troubles.

These caves now find themselves in danger and need modern day ways in order to preserve them.  China has tried to make sure that these caves and their contents survive, but they have a problem with needing money and western knowledge of this. This preservation needs to be done rapidly as due to tourism, lack of knowledge, and desert conditions they are becoming worse for wear.  It would be a real shame if these Buddhist art treasures were lost to mankind due to disagreements between countries, as they are an important heritage, not only to China but Buddhists and the World alike.

The British Library has started what is called the International Dunhuang Project, and is attempting to make every detail digitally available to scholars and others worldwide.  

Due to this area and these treasures needing to be preserved for future generations, so that they may be studied more. I would urge anyone going to China not to visit this area, so that this preservation can begin.

Sources & Credits:
National Geographic
Times Newspapers

Send photos and information to admin@orrar.net

If you would like to view more information regarding the Mogoa caves then please visit the British Library or any of the other museums worldwide, which house the different fragments of the 1900 find.

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