Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Buddhist Cave- Temples and the Cao Family at Mogao ku, Dunhuang- Ma Shichang

After reading the article, I am now able to have a clear view of the history surrounding these great architectural pieces. Since the remains of these famous caves were discovered much research began on discussing the dates and structures of the caves. The Cao family must be recognized this is because they were the starting point. It was their funds that allowed for the caves to be built. They were of great importance and showed worldwide what they had done. China is a country that has been extensively mentioned throughout the article. The five famous caves are worldly know, but the most famous cave is the Moago Ku. It is most recognizable because of its incorporation of Buddhist art. It has been recognized as a historical monument, a significant emblem of culture for its people. There are five important sites in China, the Moago Caves, The Wugenmiao Caves, The western Thousand Buddha Caves, The eastern thousand buddha aves, and the Yulin Caves. All of these caves were built over a span of years, that stretched from the fifth to the fourteenth century. These caves were built with much strategy and experience.

The reading brought me back to the time period, and learning from the history of caves gives me a greater appreciation for the history that each posses. It is clear that although the caves were constructed many many centuries ago, human beings throughout history were able to function according to what they had. The caves served as many different means for each sector of history. According to each historical period, the caves served a significant purpose.