Difference between revisions of "Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves"
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| − | The '''Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves''' (Chinese: 柏孜克里千佛洞; pinyin: Bózīkèlǐ Qiānfódòng) is a complex of Buddhist cave grottos dating from the 5th to 14th century between the cities of Turpan and Shanshan (Loulan) at the north-east of the Taklamakan Desert near the ancient ruins of Gaochang in the Mutou Valley, a gorge in the Flaming Mountains, China. They are high on the cliffs of the west Mutou Valley under the Flaming Mountains, and most of the surviving caves date from the Uyghur Kara-Khoja kingdom around the 10th to 13th centuries. | + | |
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| + | The '''[[Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves]]''' ({{Wiki|Chinese}}: [[柏孜克里千佛洞]]; pinyin: [[Bózīkèlǐ Qiānfódòng]]) is a complex of [[Buddhist]] {{Wiki|cave}} [[grottos]] dating from the 5th to 14th century between the cities of [[Turpan]] and Shanshan (Loulan) at the north-east of the [[Taklamakan Desert]] near the [[ancient]] ruins of [[Gaochang]] in the Mutou Valley, a gorge in the Flaming [[Mountains]], [[China]]. | ||
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| + | They are high on the cliffs of the [[west]] Mutou Valley under the Flaming [[Mountains]], and most of the surviving [[caves]] date from the [[Wikipedia:Uyghur language|Uyghur]] Kara-Khoja {{Wiki|kingdom}} around the 10th to 13th centuries. | ||
[[File:Turpan-bezeklik-cuevas-d01.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | [[File:Turpan-bezeklik-cuevas-d01.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | ||
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| − | The murals at Bezeklik have suffered considerable damage. Many of the murals were damaged by local Muslim population whose religion proscribed figurative images of sentient beings, the eyes and mouths in particular were often gouged out. Pieces of murals were also broken off for other uses by the locals. During the late nineteen and early twentieth century, European and Japanese explorers found intact murals buried in sand, and many were removed and dispersed around the world. Some of the best preserved murals were removed by German explorer Albert von Le Coq and sent to Germany. Large pieces such as those showing Praņidhi scene were permanently fixed to walls in Museum of Ethnology in Berlin. During the Second World War they could not be removed for safekeeping, and were thus destroyed when the museum was caught in the bombing of Berlin by the Allies. Other pieces may now be found in various museums around the world, such as the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Tokyo National Museum in Japan, the British Museum in London, and the national museums of Korea and India. | + | ==[[Bezeklik]] murals== |
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| + | There are 77 rock-cut [[caves]] at the site. Most have rectangular spaces with rounded arch ceilings often divided into four [[sections]], each with a mural of the [[Buddha]]. The effect is of entire ceiling covers with hundreds of [[Buddha]] murals. | ||
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| + | Some murals show a large [[Buddha]] surrounded by other figures, [[including]] {{Wiki|Indians}}, {{Wiki|Persians}} and {{Wiki|Europeans}}. The [[quality]] of the murals vary with some being artistically {{Wiki|naive}} while others are masterpieces of [[religious]] [[art]]. The murals that best represent the [[Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves]] are the large-sized murals, which were given the [[name]] the "Praņidhi Scene", paintings depicting [[Sakyamuni’s]] "promise" or "praņidhi" from his [[past life]]. | ||
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| + | The murals at [[Bezeklik]] have [[suffered]] considerable damage. Many of the murals were damaged by local {{Wiki|Muslim}} population whose [[religion]] proscribed figurative images of [[sentient beings]], the [[eyes]] and mouths in particular were often gouged out. Pieces of murals were also broken off for other uses by the locals. During the late nineteen and early twentieth century, {{Wiki|European}} and [[Japanese]] explorers found intact murals [[Wikipedia:burial|buried]] in sand, and many were removed and dispersed around the [[world]]. Some of the best preserved murals were removed by [[German]] explorer Albert von [[Le Coq]] and sent to {{Wiki|Germany}}. Large pieces such as those showing Praņidhi scene were permanently fixed to walls in Museum of [[Ethnology]] in [[Berlin]]. During the [[Second World War]] they could not be removed for safekeeping, and were thus destroyed when the museum was caught in the bombing of [[Berlin]] by the Allies. Other pieces may now be found in various museums around the [[world]], such as the [[Hermitage]] Museum in {{Wiki|St. Petersburg}}, [[Tokyo National Museum]] in [[Japan]], the {{Wiki|British Museum}} in [[London]], and the national museums of [[Korea]] and [[India]]. | ||
| − | A digital recreation of the Bezeklik murals removed by explorers was shown in Japan. | + | A digital recreation of the [[Bezeklik]] murals removed by explorers was shown in [[Japan]]. |
{{W}} | {{W}} | ||
[[Category:Buddhist Caves]] | [[Category:Buddhist Caves]] | ||
Latest revision as of 23:53, 9 February 2016
The Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves (Chinese: 柏孜克里千佛洞; pinyin: Bózīkèlǐ Qiānfódòng) is a complex of Buddhist cave grottos dating from the 5th to 14th century between the cities of Turpan and Shanshan (Loulan) at the north-east of the Taklamakan Desert near the ancient ruins of Gaochang in the Mutou Valley, a gorge in the Flaming Mountains, China.
They are high on the cliffs of the west Mutou Valley under the Flaming Mountains, and most of the surviving caves date from the Uyghur Kara-Khoja kingdom around the 10th to 13th centuries.
Bezeklik murals
There are 77 rock-cut caves at the site. Most have rectangular spaces with rounded arch ceilings often divided into four sections, each with a mural of the Buddha. The effect is of entire ceiling covers with hundreds of Buddha murals.
Some murals show a large Buddha surrounded by other figures, including Indians, Persians and Europeans. The quality of the murals vary with some being artistically naive while others are masterpieces of religious art. The murals that best represent the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves are the large-sized murals, which were given the name the "Praņidhi Scene", paintings depicting Sakyamuni’s "promise" or "praņidhi" from his past life.
The murals at Bezeklik have suffered considerable damage. Many of the murals were damaged by local Muslim population whose religion proscribed figurative images of sentient beings, the eyes and mouths in particular were often gouged out. Pieces of murals were also broken off for other uses by the locals. During the late nineteen and early twentieth century, European and Japanese explorers found intact murals buried in sand, and many were removed and dispersed around the world. Some of the best preserved murals were removed by German explorer Albert von Le Coq and sent to Germany. Large pieces such as those showing Praņidhi scene were permanently fixed to walls in Museum of Ethnology in Berlin. During the Second World War they could not be removed for safekeeping, and were thus destroyed when the museum was caught in the bombing of Berlin by the Allies. Other pieces may now be found in various museums around the world, such as the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Tokyo National Museum in Japan, the British Museum in London, and the national museums of Korea and India.
A digital recreation of the Bezeklik murals removed by explorers was shown in Japan.
