The Toyuk Grottoes

　　The Toyuk Grottoes are located in Toyuk Township, Shanshan County, Turpan Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. They are the earliest known cave temples excavated in the Turpan region and represent the earliest and largest grotto complex from the Gaochang period.

　　The grottoes were initially constructed in the 4th century. During the 5th to 6th centuries, under the Northern Liang and the Cao clan’s Gaochang regime, the construction of temples and excavation of caves reached its peak, and the site became the location of a royal monastery. From the 7th to the 12th century, during the Uyghur Gaochang period, additional caves were excavated or modified. By the 13th century, they gradually fell into disuse with the spread of Islam. In the early 20th century, foreign expeditions looted the site, resulting in the loss of numerous precious cultural relics overseas.

　　The caves are distributed along both sides of the Toyuk Valley, covering a north-south area of about 500 meters. They are divided into eastern and western sections, with a total of 94 surviving caves, 46 of which are numbered. Among these, only nine caves retain murals. The cave types include square caves, central-pillar caves, and vaulted ceiling caves. The square caves can be further categorized by roof type into flat-roofed, inverted-bowl (fudou), and dome-style. In terms of function, the grottoes are classified into three types: chaitya (prayer hall) caves, vihara (monastic dwelling) caves, and preaching caves. The majority are meditation caves and preaching caves, totaling 37, which are situated on either side of the worship caves—similar to the layout seen at the Kizil Grottoes—reflecting the characteristics of early Chinese cave art.

　　Most of the murals in the Toyuk Grottoes have peeled off significantly. However, in Cave 44, where content is relatively discernible, the central and side walls depict a Buddha flanked by two bodhisattvas. The Jataka tales (stories of the Buddha’s previous lives) are also fairly clear, with each wall featuring a set of seven paintings, each accompanied by Chinese inscriptions. Some identifiable mural themes include: “The Endurance of Prince Kshantivada Having His Hands and Feet Cut Off,” “Prince Mahashanti 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 Save a Dove.”

　　The Toyuk Grottoes are the earliest known cave temples in the Gaochang region and the site where Central Plains Buddhist culture first intersected with that of the Western Regions. The architectural styles of the caves and the 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 dwellings with ancient architectural forms are still in use today, representing a rarity in the history of earthen architecture in China. The surrounding area of the Toyuk Grottoes features Zoroastrian tombs, Buddhist monasteries, and Islamic mausoleums, reflecting the region’s profound historical depth of diverse religions and cultures.

　　In May 2006, the Toyuk Grottoes, as a site dating from the Northern and Southern Dynasties to the Tang Dynasty, were approved by the State Council for inclusion in the sixth batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.