Carved into living stone.
生于山崖，刻于岩石。
AN ART CARVED IN TIME
GROTTOES & MURALS
石窟与壁画 · 凿于山岩，绘于岁月
Discover the spaces, stories and colours of the grottoes.
Explore the collectionORIGINS
源起
LANDSCAPES OF FAITH PEOPLES OF THE WORLD
信仰的山河 世界的人文
A DIALOGUE WITH THE LAND
与山河的对话
Grottoes originated in ancient India as places for Buddhist monks to worship, meditate, and live. As Buddhism spread to China along the Silk Road, grotto art gradually developed by combining Buddhist culture with local architecture, sculpture, and painting, forming a distinctive Chinese artistic tradition.
石窟起源于古代印度，最初是佛教僧侣礼佛、冥想和居住的场所。随着佛教沿丝绸之路传入中国，石窟艺术逐渐与本土建筑、雕塑和绘画相融合，最终形成了具有中国特色的石窟艺术传统。
A space for contemplation.
静观的空间
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT
发展历史
IDEAS TRAVEL ART ENDURES
思想在路上 艺术在延续
Beginnings
初始
Local traditions and early beliefs took root in the landscape, giving rise to new forms of sacred art.
本土传统与早期信仰在山河间生根， 孕育出崭新的宗教艺术形式。
Encounters
相遇
Across deserts and mountains, ideas, artists and styles met, creating a rich visual language.
穿越沙漠与高山，不同的思想、艺术家与风格 在此相遇，形成丰富的视觉语言。
Continuity
传承
Through changing times, the murals continued to be made, seen and renewed by generations.
在时代的变迁中，壁画不断被创作、观看与 修复，由一代代人传承至今。
SPACES OF DEVOTION
石窟空间
ROCK · LIGHT · SPACE
山岩 · 光线 空间
A space carved into the mountain.
凿山为空，石中见境。
A SANCTUARY WITHIN THE MOUNTAIN
山岩之中，信仰之所
01 The Entrance
洞口
Light marks the passage from landscape to sanctuary.
光线引领人们从山河走入石窟。
02 The Sanctuary
窟室
Architecture, sculpture and painting share one space.
建筑、造像与壁画在此交融。
03 The Ceiling
窟顶
Painted patterns turn the ceiling into a visual canopy.
彩绘纹样构成头顶的艺术世界。
SELECTED WORKS
精选作品
MANY PLACES ONE HUMAN STORY
不同的地方 共同的人类故事
VOICES IN STONE AND COLOR
石与色彩中的回响
Sculptures and murals from across the grottoes reveal a rich artistic heritage — expressing devotion, beauty and the shared ideals of a connected world.
来自各地石窟的造像与壁画，展现出丰富的 艺术遗产——它们表达了信仰之美，也映照出 一个彼此连接的世界。
Seated Buddha
坐佛
Serenity in stone.
石中的宁静。
Apsara
飞天
Movement without bounds.
无界的飞舞。
Bodhisattva
菩萨
Compassion in colour.
慈悲长存。
READING A MURAL
解读一幅壁画
MORE THAN AN IMAGE A LARGER MEANING
不止于图像 更大的意义
Figures
人物
Attendants, donors and celestial beings reveal a diverse and connected world.
侍者、供养人与天人，展现出一个多元而彼此联结的世界。
Symbols
象征
Lotus, halos and ornaments carry layers of meaning across cultures.
莲花、光环与装饰，承载着跨文化的多重意义。
Stories
故事
The mural brings together faith, daily life and ideals of a better world.
壁画将信仰、日常生活与对美好世界的向往融为一体。
A closer look reveals delicate brushwork and enduring colors.
细观笔触与经久的色彩。
THE LANGUAGE OF PATTERNS
纹样之美
LINES REPEAT BEAUTY ENDURES
纹样流转 美意长存
ORDER IN EVERY LINE
一笔一纹，秩序之美
Across cave ceilings and painted borders, repeated forms create rhythm. Lotus petals, flowing vines and clouds bring a quiet sense of movement to the walls.
从窟顶到壁画边饰，重复的纹样构成韵律。莲瓣、卷草与流云，让静止的墙面生出流动的美。
01 Lotus / 莲花
Petals unfold into a balanced, radiating form.
层叠花瓣，向心而生。
02 Vines / 卷草
Curves connect each repeating form.
曲线相连，绵延成纹。
03 Clouds / 流云
Sweeping lines suggest lightness and motion.
流转的线条，轻盈的想象。
MATERIALS & MAKING
材料与技艺
HANDS. MATERIALS. IDEAS A LASTING LEGACY
双手 · 材料 · 思想延续的遗产
Natural materials, lasting colors.
源自自然，历久弥新。
01 Materials
材料
Mineral pigments, clay and organic materials form the local environment.
来自当地的天然矿物颜料、 黏土与有机材料。
02 Preparation
处理
Materials were ground and mixed with binders to create paint.
材料经研磨并加入结合剂， 调和成颜料。
03 Application
绘制
Artists painted on prepared clay surfaces, working in layers.
艺术家在处理过的地仗上分层 绘制。
04 Techniques
技法
Lines, colors and details were built with care and experience.
线条、色彩与细节，依赖着 耐心和经验。
05 Enduring
传承
Through time and care, their work still speaks today.
历经时光与守护，他们的 作品仍在与今天对话。
RESEARCH & CONSERVATION
研究与保护
UNDERSTANDING TODAY FOR TOMORROW
立足当下 为了未来
Care for what endures.
守护延续的美。
Understanding
深入研究
Through careful study, we learn more about the materials, techniques and meanings behind the art.
通过细致的研究，我们不断加深对艺术背后 材料、技法与意义的理解。
Preserving
保护传承
Conservation helps protect the grottoes and murals for future generations, combining traditional knowledge with new technology.
保护工作将传统知识与现代技术相结合， 帮助石窟与壁画延续至未来。
Inspiring
启发未来
The grottoes continue to inspire people around the world — reminding us of our shared past and our common humanity.
石窟与壁画持续启发着世界各地的人们， 提醒我们共同的过去与共同的人性。
