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Manichaean Grottos

"Manichaean art has left its mark also in the cave art of Central Asia. All the three temple complexes of Turfan, i.e.Toyuk, Bezeklik and Sangim, contain many Manichaean grottoes which have been studied in great details by Prof Chao (Zhao) Huashan of the Bejing University." - RADHA BANERJEE
 
 

The Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang, popularly renowned as the Thousand Buddha Caves, were carved out of the steep, rough rocks stretching about 1,600 meters along the eastern side of Mingsha Hill, 25 km southeast of Dunhuang. Construction began in 366 A.D. and continued for another 10 or so dynasties. In the year 1900, a noted Taoist priest discovered a cave at the site which contained more than 50,000 sutras, documents and paintings of nearly 10 dynasties ranging from the fourth to the 11th century.

The  Grottoes of Bezeklik Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves are found on the cliffs, 50km (31 miles) east of Turpan. The bizaklik Thousand-buddha Caves became an important cultural unit protected by the state in 1961.

"The Bezeklik temple complex too has many grottoes devoted to manichaean subjects, like the veneration of the divine tree, portraits of Mani's followers in Persian dress, as well as a sketch of a Manichaean temple (Grotto No. 38 B. according to the classification of Professor Chao Huashan). " - Radha Banerjee

The Grottoes of Sangim Sengim Caves (Shengjinkou)

"At Sangim, Prof. Chao could visit only two Manichaean temples which he termed as the Northern Temple and the Southern Temple. They also contain many pictures depicting the Manichaean subjects such as the Tree of Life, the Tree of Death, the Orchard of Treasure Trees, etc." - Radha Banerjee

The Grottoes of Toyuk "Ruins of Gaochang City: Scattered over an area of two million square metes at the foot of Fiery Mountain about forty-five kilometers southeast of the town of Turpan, this site is divided into three parts: an outer city, an inner city, and the imperial palace. Most of the city walls are still well preserved, the highest section being twelve meters high. Within the city walls are the remains of broken houses, earth pagodas, and a network of streets.

"Toyuk grottoes show two portraits of donors wearing striped cloaks with their hands raised. Prof. Chao Huashan has described this dress as that of Macedonian arstocracy. At that time Macedonia was an important centre of Manichaean faith. The Manichaean grottoes of the second period (9th century) are distinguished by the presence of the Uighur script and their large scale showing the might of the Uighur empire.
" - Radha Banerjee