Dunhuang Mogao Caves, Northern Caves. Volume II

Author: Peng Jinzhang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: This volume comprehensively introduces the contents of 64 caves from B95 to B156 on the northern cliff face, as well as Cave 462 and Cave 465. It describes each cave in detail based on their location on the cliff face, excavation history, cave structure, internal layout, unearthed artifacts, cave nature, and era. Among the 64 caves in this volume, caves B95 to B103 are located in the lower layer of the B and A sections of the northern cliff face, belonging to the second layer of caves on the northern cliff face. Due to their lower position on the northern cliff face, some of these caves have been repeatedly eroded and flooded by the Daquan River water and are prone to human damage. As a result, most of them are poorly preserved. Only a few caves have yielded a small amount of artifacts, while the majority have yielded none. Caves B104 to B143 are located in the A, C, D, and E sections of the northern cliff face, belonging to the third layer of caves on the northern cliff face. These caves are slightly higher in position on the cliff face compared to the aforementioned second layer, and most of them have yielded artifacts, while those that have yielded nothing are in the minority. A few caves have yielded a large number of artifacts. Given the erosion of the northern cliff face by floodwaters from the Daquan River, combined with damage caused by heavy rain, the lower caves are inevitably affected, which in turn affects the upper caves. This undeniably accounts for the poorer preservation of caves B104 to B143. As for caves B144 to B156, being located higher on the cliff face, they are better preserved than the former.