China's Buddhist Treasures at Dunhuang

摘要

One thousand nine hundred kilometers due west of Beijing, on the edge of both the Gobi and the Takla Makan deserts, sits one of the world's most important cultural gateways. The city of Dunhuang— which means "blazing beacon"—represented the last oasis for Chinese travelers setting out for the West along the northern or southern arm of the Silk Road. The two routes skirted the deadly Takla Makan Desert, joining again on the far side at Kashi (1,600 kilometers to the west). For travelers coming to the East, the two forts of Dunhuang— the Jade Gate, or Yumen Barrier, and the Yang Barrier—meant successful passage around the Takla Makan, where the way was marked by the bleached bones of camels, horses and unfortunate voyagers. This fortified outpost formed the furthermost extension of the Great Wall of China.