敦煌石窟群
敦煌石窟是对中国古代敦煌郡和晋昌郡就岩镌凿之佛教石窟的总称，位于今甘肃省敦煌市、瓜州县、肃北蒙古族自治县和玉门市境内，范围包括今敦煌莫高窟、西千佛洞，瓜州榆林窟、东千佛洞、水峡口下洞子石窟，肃北五个庙石窟、一个庙石窟和玉门昌马石窟。因其最大的石窟莫高窟位于古敦煌郡，各石窟的艺术风格又同属一脉，且古敦煌郡为两郡之政治、经济、文化中心，故以敦煌石窟作为统称。
敦煌石窟中现存规模最大的是莫高窟，并因此成为敦煌石窟的代表而名闻天下。实际上，这里的每一座石窟都曾有过自己的辉煌，并保存着独具特色的艺术成就。其中，西千佛洞位于敦煌古城与阳关之间，根据文字记载，其开凿时间早于莫高窟；榆林窟所在地瓜州位于河西走廊的西端，与敦煌同为古代丝绸之路上的重镇，集中体现敦煌晚期艺术的精华；东千佛洞位于榆林窟以东，是一个以藏传密教内容为主的佛教石窟群，反映出11世纪以后中印佛教文化交流的情况；下洞子石窟、五个庙石窟、一个庙石窟和昌马石窟，这四处石窟洞窟虽数量不多，现存壁画均为五代之后的作品，但也是古代敦煌艺术地域范围的实物见证。如果说莫高窟是一部完整的中国中古艺术史，那敦煌石窟群中的其他石窟则各有各的绮丽，为这部艺术史锦上添花，散发出神秘迷人的光彩。
The Dunhuang Caves Complex
"The Dunhuang Caves" is the collective term for the Buddhist caves carved into the cliffs of ancient Dunhuang and Jinchang prefectures. These caves are located in present-day Dunhuang City, Guazhou County, Subei Mongolian Autonomous County, and Yumen City in Gansu Province. The complex includes several key sites: the famous Mogao Caves, the Western Thousand-Buddha Caves, the Yulin Caves in Guazhou, the Eastern Thousand-Buddha Caves, the Shuixiakou Lower Caves, the Five-Temple Caves and the One-Temple Cave in Subei, and the Changma Caves in Yumen. The Mogao Caves is the largest and most famous of these sites, located in ancient Dunhuang Prefecture, which served as the political, economic, and cultural center of the region. Despite their geographic spread, all the caves share a common artistic lineage, which is why they are collectively referred to as the Dunhuang Caves.
The largest in the Dunhuang Caves Complex is the Mogao Caves, which has gained worldwide recognition as a representative site of the Dunhuang Caves. In fact, each cave once enjoyed a specific reputation and preserves unique artistic achievements. Among them, the Western Thousand-Buddha Caves is located between the ancient cities of Dunhuang and Yangguan. Historical records show that these caves were carved before the Mogao Caves. The Yulin Caves, situated at the western end of the Hexi Corridor in Guazhou—an important hub along the ancient Silk Road, exemplifies the essence of late Dunhuang art. The Eastern Thousand-Buddha Caves, located east of the Yulin Caves, primarily features content related to Tibetan Tantric Buddhism, reflecting the influence of Indian Buddhism after the 11th Century. The Lower Caves, Five-Temple Caves, One-Temple Cave, and Changma Caves may be fewer in number in terms of caves, but their existing murals date from after the Five Dynasties (907-960) and serve as tangible evidence of the ancient artistic landscape of Dunhuang. If the Mogao Caves represents a comprehensive history of Chinese medieval art, each of the other caves in the Dunhuang Caves Complex contributes distinctly unique beauty, enriching the area's artistic history with an enchanting, mysterious allure.
