Through Cedric's viewfinder

October 2010, Dunhuang, Gansu Province, China.

The city of Dunhuang is situated in a rich oasis containing Crescent Lake (月牙泉) and Mingsha Shan (鸣沙山, literally “Echoing-Sand Mountain”). Mingsha Shan is so named for the sound of the wind whipping off the dunes, the singing sand phenomenon.

Located in the arms of Echoing-Sand Dune, Crescent Lake is a spring in the shape of a half moon. It has existed for at least two thousands years alongside Echoing-Sand Dune, never drying up. Crescent Lake is beautiful and clear.

For thousands of years, Crescent Lake has remained clear and flowing. It is a real desert wonder. There are many beautiful legends about the formation of the lake but, in fact, the most important reason is the landscape. The land here is a little lower so the altitude is fit for storing water. In addition, research has revealed that in this special crescent landform, the falling sands from the surrounding dune would be sent back to the other side of the nearby Echoing-Sand Dune. Thus, the sands do not engulf the lake.

But the lake, also a World Heritage Site, began shrinking in the 1970′s and is now about a third of its original size. In the 1990′s, officials tried pumping in water but quit because the transfers were polluting the lake. More recently, reservoirs have been built a short distance away in hopes that water would seep into the ground and help Crescent Lake, also called Crescent Moon Lake and Crescent Spring.

Fan Cun, head of the agency overseeing the lake is very worried: “We would have failed future generations if we watch this lake disappear.”

Many of the early caves followed the central column style of cave construction seen in places such as Ajanta Caves in India. The central column represent the stupa round which worshippers may circumambulate and gain blessings. Others are hall caves influenced by traditional Chinese and Buddhist temple architecture. These caves may have a truncated pyramidal ceiling sometimes painted to resemble a tent, or they may have a flat or gabled ceiling that imitates traditional buildings. Some of the caves used for meditation are adaptation of the Indian Vihara (monastery) caves and contain side-chambers just large enough for one person to sit in. (wikipedia)

A common motif in many caves is the tiers of numerous Buddha figures known as the “Thousand Buddhas”, after which this and other “Thousand Buddhas Caves” are so named. These small Buddhas were drawn using stencils so that identical figures may be replicated. Flying apsaras, or celestial beings may be depicted in the ceiling or above the Buddhas, and figures of donors may be shown along the bottom of the walls.

entrance of the site:

The Mogao Caves or Mogao Grottoes (Chinese: 莫高窟; pinyin: Mògāo kū), also known as the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas (Chinese: 千佛洞; pinyin: qiān fó dòng), form a system of 492 temples 25 km (16 mi) southeast of the center of Dunhuang, an oasis strategically located at a religious and cultural crossroads on the Silk Road, in Gansu province, China.
The caves contain some of the finest examples of Buddhist art spanning a period of 1,000 years.
The first caves were constructed in the 4th Century (1600 years ago!!) as places of Buddhist meditation and worship.

The Terracotta Army or the “Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses”, is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BC and whose purpose was to protect the emperor in his afterlife, and to make sure that he had people to rule over.
The figures, dating from 3rd century BC, were discovered in 1974 by some local farmers

The figures were also originally painted with bright pigments, variously coloured in pink, red, green, blue, black, brown, white and lilac. The coloured lacquer finish, individual facial features, and actual weapons used in producing these figures created a realistic appearance.

There are four main pits associated with the terracotta army. These pits are located about 1.5 km east of the burial mound and are about 7 metres deep. The army is placed as if to protect the tomb from the east, where all the Qin Emperor’s conquered states lay.

The pit one, pictured below, which is 230 metres long and 62 metres wide, contains the main army of more than 6,000 figures!

The terracotta figures are life-sized. They vary in height, uniform and hairstyle in accordance with rank. Most originally held real weapons such as spears, swords, or crossbows.

more than 2000 years old work of art.. simply amazing! admire the level of detail of these bronze unearthed in 1980.

The Qin bronze chariot (銅車馬) or (秦銅車馬) is a two-piece Qin dynasty bronze artifact. The first piece “bronze chariot one” (一號銅車馬) consist of a driver with two seats in the chariot with a bronze umbrella. The second piece “bronze chariot two” (二號銅車馬) is a separate carriage. Both are about 50% the size of a real horse. The chariot was unearthed in 1980 at the Qin Shi Huang mausoleum. It is one of 64 designated historical artifacts that can never leave Chinese soil.
When the artifact was first found, it was in broken pieces. It took five years to restore both the chariots together. Today the chariot is stored at the “Museum of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shi Huang” (秦始皇兵馬俑博物館) in Shaanxi.
(source: wikipedia)

happy students, I shared their break between two classes

with my wonderful hosts for an improvised lunch

we had a nice chat in the early evening