#qianfodong

[picturesofchina]

The valley containing the Bezeklik Buddha caves (doorways on the right) near Turpan, Xinjiang

[oldgirlyoungcrone]

Papers flowers from a canopy manufactured during the Tang Dynasty (~600-~800AD) discovered in the Mogao Grottoes aka Qianfodong (”Cave of the Thousand Buddhas) at Dunhuang, itself once a major stop on the ancient Silk Road.

Likely recovered in the early 20th century from the secret cave at Qianfodong discovered in 1900 by the Daoist monk Wang Yuanlu, these paper flowers were amongst many textiles and manuscripts brought to the UK by the adventurer and early archaeologist, Sir Aurel Stein.  

They are now part of the magnificent Stein Collection at the Victoria & Albert Museum