Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, the distant story of the ancient Kingdom of Kucha

Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, Kucha Grottoes, an indispensable chapter in the west-to-east transmission of Chinese Buddhism. The caves were carved 300 years earlier than the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, but were gradually abandoned and fell out of the list of China’s four great grottoes. The reasons include: first, the people of Kucha originally believed in Buddhism, but since the 10th century, religious changes led to many caves being abandoned and damaged; second, erosion caused by natural disasters; third, foreign expeditions looted a large number of murals and statues, resulting in most of the caves’ essence being lost; fourth, many images are incomplete or unclear, making research difficult. Currently, only six caves are open to the public, with limited content to see, and photography is strictly prohibited. Images 7-8-9 are murals from restored caves at the Aksu Museum, showing the rare use of diamond-shaped patterns as frames to depict Buddhist scriptures stories, with a very elegant aesthetic. The black seated statue in front of the cave is Kumārajīva, a Kucha native, a famous translator and high monk of Chinese Buddhism, revered as a national teacher for his erudition and exceptional intelligence. He quietly squats amid the splendid, colorful peaks and forests, while the ancient Kingdom of Kucha fades like distant clouds.