Constructing of Mogao Grottos in Yuan Dynasty

In Chinese Yuan Dynasty, also the Mogao Grottos were carved frequently. Some grottos were carved and some were repaired. The newly carved one included No. 3 Grotto, No. 462 Grotto and No. 463 Grotto and others. The repaired one included the corridor of No. 61 Grotto and the front room of No. 464 Grotto. They were representative works in that period. At that same time, in the Huangqing Period in Yuan Dynasty (about A.D.1312), the Huangqing Temple was built in front of No.61 Grotto. This temple was repaired in the 11th of Zhizheng Period (A.D.1351) and there was a Stele of Repairing Huangqing Temple. It said, “It has been a long period since the Sha Chow’s Huangqing Temple was built through Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty. It has been destroyed by war and sands. The King of Xining Sulaiman worshiped the Buddhism and he contributed money, wood and food to repair it. The contributors included the Buddhist “Zhibao Master” and the Christian “Yellow Priest”.

The famous 6-word mantra stele of Mogao Grottos was carved in the 8th year of Zhizheng Period (A.D.1348) in Yuan Dynasty. We knew from it that the Mogao Grottos was ruled by Sha Chow Lu in Yuan Dynasty and the King of Xining Sulaiman was the 7th grandson of Toil who was a son of Kublai Khan.

The above two steles were still in the Mogao Grottos.

Moreover, the No.465 Grotto of Mogao Grottos was carved to show the content of Tibetan Buddhism and that was the earliest grotto. Although the inscription of building age hadn’t been left in the grotto, the values of history, culture and art were very important.

The Mogao Grottos had been repaired and no grotto had been carved since Yuan Dynasty.

Compiled by www.travel-silkroad.com
Translated by www.xinghui.com
February 12th, 2001