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Đon Hoang is a pivotal landmark in the history of Chinese Buddhism. It not only embodies ancient culture but also showcases the vibrant development of Buddhism along the Silk Road. Among them, the complex of Hang Mac Cao in the southeast of Đon Hoang is a massive repository of historical records, offering insights into the society and religious life of ancient times. Let's explore the unique architectural marvels that transcend time at Hang Mac Cao with Mytour!
About Hang Mac Cao
It's no exaggeration to say that China is the cradle of East Asian culture. This populous nation boasts a history spanning over 5000 years, rich in cultural heritage. Among its unique cultural sites, Đon Hoang stands out not only for its ancient Buddhist philosophy but also as a hub of commerce along the Silk Road. However, the new architectural wonders serve as the most vivid evidence of Đon Hoang's cultural richness. And Hang Mac Cao is a prime example of this millennia-old culture.
Stone Buddha statues intricately carved by human hands (Image Source: Collection)
Where is Hang Mac Cao Located?
Hang Mac Cao, also known as the Cave of Thousand Buddhas or Heavenly Buddha, is situated in Cam Tu province, China, approximately 25km southeast of the city center of Don Huang. In 1987, Hang Mac Cao was officially recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site.
The Birth of Hang Mac Cao
According to historical records, the birth of Hang Mac Cao is closely linked to the spread of Buddhist teachings. Although Buddhism originated from Indian teachings, its most flourishing development occurred in China due to its strong expansion through the rocky mountains of Ha Tay province. Therefore, Don Huang became the eternal 'holy land' of Buddhism. In the 7th century, Buddhism during the Tang Dynasty reached its peak of prosperity.
Additionally, ancient tales of Don Huang recount that there was once an emperor named Lac Ton who came to the land of Don Huang. He saw a radiant light emitting from the mountaintop, majestic and awe-inspiring. In that moment, he witnessed hundreds of Buddhas appearing on the mountain peak. He believed that this place was the 'sacred land of Buddhism.' Carrying reverence for Buddhism, Master Tu Lac recounted this to some people and together they began the journey of excavating caves on the mountain cliffs.
The birth of Hang Mac Cao is always associated with the history of Chinese Buddhism (Image Source: Collection)
The stone caves, where the ancient emperor supposedly first laid the foundation, are yet to be specifically confirmed. However, that is no longer significant now. Enlightenment from the Buddhist teachings became the main path of practice. The pursuit of asceticism, entering deep forests for meditation, enduring hardships became the sole purpose of the monks. Hence, numerous stone caves were intricately carved over many years to attest to this.
The Interplay of Multiple Cultures
During the excavation process of the caves, researchers discovered countless exquisite paintings and meticulously carved Buddha statues on the cave walls. Moreover, Hang Mac Cao is situated right on the 'Silk Road' route - the connection between the West and the East. Therefore, the caves became a focal point, where various cultures and religions from around the world converged.
Foreign art forms and Chinese art intertwine at Hang Mac Cao. Hence, Hang Mac Cao stone caves have become an 'immortal' artistic treasure trove with unparalleled sculptures and paintings in the world.
The stone caves still preserve nearly 500 caves and 50,000 meters of paintings along with two thousand statue repositories (Image Source: Collection)
Despite enduring numerous ups and downs throughout history and the devastation of war, the caves still preserve nearly 500 intact caves with around 50,000 meters of paintings and over two thousand ancient statues. The statues here come in various forms, reflecting the richness of the Donghuang culture. Most of these paintings depict Buddhist themes, such as images of Buddha Shakyamuni, Bodhisattvas, and Heavenly Kings.
In addition, Hang Mac Cao boasts numerous sculptures and paintings that reflect ancient social life through jewelry, clothing, architecture, and ornaments. Therefore, Western scholars regard the paintings and sculptures at Hang Mac Cao as a 'Museum on the Rock'.
The History of Hang Mac Cao Formation
Hang Mac Cao is the largest preserved Buddhist art treasure trove in the world. When visiting the caves, tourists not only admire the exquisite paintings and sculptures but also have the opportunity to learn about Buddhist art.
Hang Mac Cao officially placed its first stone in 366 and continued construction throughout many dynasties. In the following year, the number of caves increased rapidly. By the time of the Tang Dynasty, China had over a thousand caves.
Today, Hang Mac Cao has become a vast cultural treasure preserved and protected by the Chinese government. Due to the increasing number of visitors to the stone caves, authorities have built an additional art exhibition center at the foot of Tam Nguy Mountain.
Distinctive Architecture of Hang Mac Cao
Exterior Architecture of the Caves
During tours in Donghuang, China, tourists easily encounter stone caves appearing everywhere. Mac Cao Cave has a length of 1600 meters with 492 caves. This place contains over 45,000 square meters of murals and 2,415 carved statues, along with 5 wooden houses from the Tang and Song dynasties. The cave terrain is built facing west, looking eastward. In front of the main cave is the majestic Tam Nguy Mountain and a river flowing across.
Mac Cao Cave is located in a prime position surrounded by rivers and mountains (Source: Collection)
Many feng shui experts believe: 'Mac Cao Cave has a prime location with mountains and rivers surrounding it, facing the favorable wind direction. This demonstrates steadfast determination, as solid as a mountain yet still carrying the serene character of water.' In addition, the cave also has excellent light-blocking capabilities when sunlight shines into the entire cave.
Interior Architecture of the Cave
The interior architecture of Mac Cao Cave is designed with wooden structures, lotus-shaped stone columns, tiled floors, and thousands of giant fabric sheets. If all the murals were connected, they would create a corridor of paintings stretching up to 25km. The deeper we go into Mac Cao Cave, the more we admire the 'infinite' creativity of ancient people.
The interior architecture is mainly designed with tiled floors, wood, and thousands of colorful fabric sheets (Source: Collection)
Additionally, the cave preserves about 50,000 copies of the Buddhist Scriptures and hand-written historical documents. Among them, we can mention thousands of silk paintings, murals, embroidered paintings, and some other calligraphic works.
Although the historical stories and legends about Mac Dao Cave remain a mystery awaiting explanation, Mac Cao Cave continues to be a masterpiece of culture, architecture that transcends all ages. Only when setting foot in Mac Dao Cave can tourists fully understand how powerful the influence of Buddhist art is on China. Not just a spiritual destination, Mac Cao Cave is also the largest treasure trove of culture in the country with a population of billions. So why wait any longer without picking up the phone to call Mytour hotline of Mytour to book a China tour at a super bargain price!
