library
Dunhuang: Library Cave Christian texts
Mogao Caves, Dunhuang, Gansu, China · Silk Road / overland route
40.037, 94.804
Attested. P. 3847 is attested and accepted. Two Jingjiao texts from the private Li collection are suspected modern forgeries (Lin Wushu and Rong Xinjiang, 1996).
The Library Cave (Cave 17), sealed in the early 11th century and opened in 1900, held Chinese Christian (Jingjiao) texts. They include the 'Hymn to the Holy Trinity' and the 'Book of Praise' list of sacred books, now in Paris (BnF, Pelliot chinois 3847). A Syriac Psalter with Uyghur notes was later found in cave B53 of the northern caves.
Source stance: insider. Christian liturgical texts.
People and groups named here
- Wang Yuanlu (opened the cave, 1900)
- Paul Pelliot
- Aurel Stein
Related places
Sources
- Mogao Caves (UNESCO World Heritage List no. 440)
UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Accessed 2026-11-11.
- Jingjiao Documents (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia contributors. Accessed 2026-11-11.
- Mogao Caves (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia contributors. Accessed 2026-11-11.
Further reading
Councils here
None in this list.