The Tuyoq Grottoes

The Tuyoq Grottoes

The Tuyoq Grottoes are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Tuyoq Grottoes are located in Tuyoq Township, Shanshan County, Turpan Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. They are the earliest known grottoes carved in the Turpan region and represent the oldest and largest grotto complex from the Gaochang period.

The grottoes were first built in the 4th century. From the 5th to 6th centuries, during the Northern Liang and Qu Gaochang periods, the trend of temple construction and cave excavation reached its height, and the site became the location of royal temples. From the 7th to 12th centuries, during the Uyghur Gaochang period, additional caves were either excavated or modified. By the 13th century, the grottoes were gradually abandoned with the spread of Islam. In the early 20th century, foreign exploration teams looted and excavated the site, resulting in the loss of a large number of precious cultural relics overseas.

The caves are distributed along both sides of the Tuyoq Valley within a north-south stretch of approximately 500 meters. They are divided into eastern and western sections, with a total of 94 surviving caves, including 46 numbered ones, of which only nine retain murals. The cave types include square caves, central-pillar caves, and longitudinal vaulted caves. Square caves can be further categorized by their roof styles into flat-roofed, inverted-bowl, and dome types. The grotto types fall into three categories: chaitya caves, vihara caves, and preaching caves. Among these, meditation caves and preaching caves are the most numerous, totaling 37, and are situated on either side of the worship caves—similar to the layout seen in the Kizil Grottoes—which reflects the characteristics of early Chinese grotto art.

Most of the murals in the Tuyoq Grottoes have severely peeled away. In Cave 44, where content remains relatively discernible, the central and side walls depict one Buddha flanked by two bodhisattvas. Jataka tales are also relatively clear, with each wall featuring a set of seven paintings, each accompanied by Chinese inscriptions. The identifiable mural content includes: “The Story of Prince Kshantivādin Enduring the Cutting of Hands and Feet,” “Prince Mahajanaka Seeking the Dharma and Walking into Fire,” “King Sivi Offering His Blood to Five Yakshas,” “Prince Sattva Sacrificing Himself to Feed a Tiger,” “King Vessantara Being Pinned with a Thousand Nails,” and “King Sibi Cutting His Flesh to Trade for a Dove.”

The Tuyoq Grottoes are the earliest known grottoes in the Gaochang region and mark the site of the earliest convergence between Central Plains Buddhist culture and Western Regions Buddhist culture. The cave structures and surviving murals reflect the influence of multiple cultures on the art of the Gaochang grottoes, making them a treasure trove of Buddhist art in China. Nearby, traditional residential buildings with ancient architectural styles are still in use today, representing a rare example in the history of earthen architecture in China. The surrounding area of the Tuyoq Grottoes features Zoroastrian tombs, Buddhist temples, and Islamic mausoleums, reflecting the region’s profound historical heritage of diverse religions and cultures.

In May 2006, the Tuyoq Grottoes, as grottoes dating from the Northern and Southern Dynasties to the Tang Dynasty, were approved by the State Council for inclusion in the sixth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units