Dunhuang Mogao Caves, Northern Caves. Volume 2

Author: Peng Jinzhang, Wang Jianjun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: This volume comprehensively introduces the contents of 64 caves, including B95 to B156 caves and Cave 462, Cave 465, located on the northern cliff face. It describes each cave based on its 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 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, with most caves yielding artifacts, while a few have yielded none. Some individual caves have yielded a larger number of artifacts. Due to the erosion of the northern cliff face by floodwaters from the Daquan River and the damage caused by heavy rain, the lower caves have inevitably affected the higher caves. This undoubtedly explains why caves B104 to B143 are poorly preserved. As for caves B144 to B156, being located higher on the cliff face, they are better preserved than the former.