Buddhism At Dunhuang

The area of Dunhuang is a very enigmatic region, not only for silk-road standards but for the rest of the world. Here we have an oasis town at the junction of the northern and southern routes of the silk road. In addition it can be described as a sort of middle-stage, or point of passing regarding China and Central Asia, an in-between and gate for the both of them. Now what does this information allow us to imagine? Surely that throughout time Dunhuang was an area of flowing knowledge.

New ideas and works of art must have been constantly passing through its people and its land as it was the centre of immense scholarly and cultural trade. Many different people's found themselves in that region and they brought with them their own beliefs and ideas, leaving traces behind in one of the thousands of caves at Dunhuang. Buddhism at Dunhuang is centrally important. The Buddhist monks came from the northern silk route and settled in Dunuang, for centuries they collected different manuscripts from the west and stored them in the caves, not to mention the array of art they created over hundreds of years. Yes through time a clear portrait of buddhist ideaology was painted at Dunhuang, one influenced and guided by the population's cultural tendencies.

During those times the Mogao caves must have been beautiful, something like one of our many modern-day musuems. Through time of course, and the actions of certain people, much of this art and literature has been either simply lost or destroyed. Appropriately however we can do much nowadays to restore and preserve ancient works and International Dunhuang Project is thankfully alive and running. Yet still, too much time has passed. Much of what we wish to understand will never be known because it simply happened too long ago.

As our readings showed us, Buddhism in the region was vast and occured as a major part of the town's socio-political situation. We know that monasteries were up and running and respected and that many Buddhist holidays and celebrations took place in the area. Along with this however there is much we will not know like the true effects Buddhism had on every-day life and people's morals and values. This is simply the way it is and we must accept it.

We can think back at life during those times, examine pictures of beautiful Buddhist cave murals on our computer screens, and rest knowing that Buddhism was an important and beneficial system for the people of Dunhuang, as was their humanity and creativity with regards to the development and influence that they had towards the meanings of Buddhism. All in all a great moment in the history of Buddhism, and truly a defining one.