Significance

The Mogao Caves, bearing exceptional witness to the civilizations of ancient China during the Sui, Tang and Song dynasties, are important evidence of the evolution of Buddhist art in the northwest region of China, providing an abundance of vivid materials that depict various aspects of medieval politics, economics, culture, arts, religion, ethnic relations, and daily dress in western China, so they are of unmatched historical value. The unique artistic style of Dunhuang art derives not only from the amalgamation of Han Chinese artistic tradition and styles assimilated from ancient Indian and Gandharan customs, but also from an integration of the arts of the Turks, ancient Tibetans and other Chinese ethnic minorities. The Mogao Caves, an outstanding example of a Buddhist rock art sanctuary, have represented a unique artistic achievement and played a decisive role in artistic exchanges between China, Central Asia and India.

The discovery of the Library Cave at the Mogao Caves in 1990, together with the tens of thousands of manuscripts and relics it contained, has been appraised as the world's most exceptional discovery of ancient oriental culture. This important heritage offers invaluable reference for studying the complex history of ancient China and Central Asia.