The archaeological excavation of the Mo'er Temple site is an important discovery in the field of Buddhist archaeology along the Silk Road, providing invaluable firsthand materials for studying cultural exchanges along the Silk Road, the spread of Buddhism, the evolution of Buddhist temple changes, the development of Buddhist sculpture art, and the Buddhist beliefs and temple life in Xinjiang, particularly in the Kashgar region during the Han and Tang dynasties. Author: Gou Jipeng

In the desert outside the city of Kashgar, Xinjiang, stand two "mounds" (two towers) - one tall and one short, one round and one square - which are the site of the famous Kashgar Mogao Temple ruins, one of the earliest Buddhist sites discovered in Xinjiang.

Archaeological excavations indicate that the site was established in the first century AD and gradually abandoned after the second century. Its architecture not only reflects the style of Indian Buddhism "transmitting eastward" but also bears traces of Central Plains Buddhism "propagating westward." What is the connection between the Mol Temple site and the introduction of Buddhism into China? Recently, Professor Xiao Xiaoyong, leader of the archaeological team at the Mol Temple site and a professor at Minzu University of China, accepted an interview with China News Service's "East-West Question" on this topic.

The "one round and one square" two pagodas standing at the Mol Temple Ruins. Photo provided by interviewee.

The following is a summary of the interview transcript:

Reporter from China News Service: What kind of historical site is the Mol Temple Ruins? What significant discoveries have been made in recent archaeological excavations?

Xiao Xiaoyong: The site is located approximately one kilometer northeast of the center of Kashgar, Xinjiang, on a flood terrace at the southeastern foot of the ancient Mount Gumtag, a branch of the Tianshan Mountains. The terrace is about meters long and meters at its widest point, covering an area of about square meters. To its west is a steep cliff, below which stretches an endless flood plain, with a river flowing nearby to the south. Today, the top and edges of the terrace are severely eroded by wind and rain. Apart from the two towers that have weathered, the rest of the buildings no longer exist, and only traces of several remaining walls and scattered pottery shards can be seen on the surface.

From year to year, with the approval of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of China, Minzu University of China and the Xinjiang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology cooperated to conduct active excavations at the Mor Temple site, achieving significant results.

From year to year, a large-scale Buddhist temple site complex and tens of thousands of plaster Buddha statue fragments were excavated. Additionally, hundreds of animal and plant specimens and dating samples were collected, providing a certain understanding of the overall layout, basic structure, and historical evolution of the Mol Temple site. The main remains, based on their shapes, internal facilities, and excavated artifacts, can be classified into types such as stupa bases, monk's quarters, Buddha halls, and kitchens. Among the excavated artifacts, the most numerous were plaster Buddha statue fragments of various sizes, along with various types of objects made from materials such as pottery, copper, stone, wood, and bone.

From [start date] to [end date], archaeologists completed field excavation work over a period of [number of days], during which the unearthed artifacts were particularly abundant, including over [number] pieces of various fragments such as pottery shards, [number] small items, and achieved multiple breakthrough results.

Fragments of plaster Buddha statues unearthed at the Mogao Temple site. Photo provided by interviewee.

Reporter from China News Service: The Mol Temple Ruins are one of the earliest Buddhist sites discovered in Xinjiang. What were the historical ups and downs it experienced? How does it witness the "eastward transmission" and "westward spread" of Buddhism?

Xiao Xiaoyong: Judging from the two pagodas currently remaining at the Mol Temple site, one circular and one square, the shape of the pagodas reflects the influence of the Gandhara style. However, they are constructed with adobe, featuring a three-tiered square base topped by a circular base, without statues on the pedestal, and the surface of the pagoda is whitewashed with lime, which should be a combination of local conditions. We have also excavated a large-scale monastery complex, initially sorting out the temporal and spatial development context of the Mol Temple using various methods, which can be roughly divided into three stages, each with different characteristics.

In the first phase, by the middle of the first century AD at the latest, stupas with Indian and Central Asian styles and standalone multi-room monastic cells unique to Kashgar were already constructed, reflecting the historical spread of Buddhism from India eastward. This stupa is the iconic relic of the first phase.

In the second phase, spanning approximately the 1st to 2nd centuries, the "回" character-shaped Buddhist hall popular in the Tarim Basin was added, possibly including buildings like kitchens, which, along with the stupa, formed a central plaza. The square large pagoda might have been constructed during this phase, but its independence and lack of continuous strata suggest it could be earlier or later. During this period, the local Buddhist faith shifted from being centered around stupa worship to idol worship, with the Buddha statues showing influences from Gandhara, yet a wooden six-toed foot was also discovered. According to historical records, members of the ancient Shule royal family were characterized by having six fingers or toes.

In the third phase, starting from the beginning of the century, the scale of Moer Temple reached its peak. Most of the earlier buildings were still in long-term use or underwent renovation and expansion. A large Buddha hall was newly constructed on the south side of the square pagoda, closely adjacent to the east wall of the detached monk's quarters.

The Great Buddha Hall features a unique and grand structure, with a rectangular plan consisting of a central chamber and two side rooms on each end, facing northeast. Its layout is initially believed to have been influenced by the architectural styles of Central China. Inside the Great Buddha Hall, there are large Buddha statues twice the size of a human, with wavy hair still bearing the characteristics of Gandhara, but the overall face is plump and rounded, reflecting the Tang Dynasty style. These are evidence of the influence of the "Western Spread" of Buddhism from Central China.

Additionally, a large number of round-holed copper coins, including Wuzhu and Kaiyuan Tongbao, as well as wooden combs and wooden hairpins of Central Plains style, were discovered among the unearthed artifacts, reflecting that Central Plains culture had already permeated the daily life and economic activities of the temple at that time.

Photo provided by interviewee: Site of the Mogao Grottoes in Kashgar, Xinjiang.

Reporter from China News Service: The site of the Mol Temple Ruins, located in Kashgar, is one of the earliest regions in China where Buddhism was introduced, and it was also one of the ancient Buddhist centers in the Western Regions. What is the special significance of this region for the introduction of Buddhism to China?

Xiao Xiaoyong: Kashgar, formerly known as Shule, is located at the convergence of the southern and northern routes of the Silk Road. Geographically close to Gandhara, Shule became a crucial passage for the eastward spread of Buddhism. During the Han and Tang dynasties, Buddhism flourished in Shule. When the Tang Dynasty monk Xuanzang passed through, there were hundreds of temples of various sizes and over ten thousand monks, making it one of the major centers of Buddhism in the Western Regions at the time. It can be said that before the first century, Buddhism was the predominant religion in the Kashgar region, and during this period, Shule held a significant position in the history of Chinese Buddhism.

Archaeological findings indicate that after Buddhism was introduced to Xinjiang, it quickly formed a center for the spread of Buddhist culture in the Kashgar region, influencing areas such as Kucha (present-day Kuqa, Xinjiang) and beyond, gradually becoming the mainstream religious and cultural form in the early oasis city-states of the Western Regions such as Shule and Kucha. From this point onward, Buddhism continued to spread to the Hexi Corridor, Central Plains, and other regions, gradually forming a two-way interactive pattern with traditional Chinese culture, mutually influencing each other.

Reporter from China News Service: Xinjiang has been home to multiple religions and a rich tapestry of cultures since ancient times. Why is the Kashgar Mor Temple site a powerful testament to the unity in diversity and the inclusiveness of Chinese civilization?

Xiao Xiaoyong: The archaeological excavation of the Mol Temple site is a significant discovery in the field of Buddhist archaeology along the Silk Road, providing invaluable firsthand materials for studying cultural exchanges along the Silk Road, the spread of Buddhism, the evolution of Buddhist monasteries, the development of Buddhist sculpture art, and the Buddhist beliefs and monastic life in Xinjiang, particularly in the Kashgar region during the Han and Tang dynasties. At the same time, the Mol Temple site also reflects the influence of Central Chinese culture on the Xinjiang region to some extent. The archaeological excavation of this site also provides more new evidence for the exchanges between Central China and the Western Regions, as well as the effective governance of the central government over the Western Regions.

After the introduction of Buddhism, Xinjiang also experienced the influx of Islamic and Christian cultures, leaving a rich historical and cultural heritage of various religious cultures on the land of Xinjiang. The archaeological findings at the Mor Temple site reveal the process of the spread and prevalence of Buddhism in ancient Xinjiang, substantiating the historical fact that Xinjiang has always been a place of multi-ethnic residence, a convergence of diverse cultures, and coexistence of multiple religions, reflecting the characteristics of the Chinese civilization being diverse yet integrated, and inclusive.

Interviewee Profile:*

Xiao Xiaoyong, photo provided by interviewee.

肖小勇，博士，中央民族大学教授、博士生导师。主要从事汉唐考古、新疆考古、中西文化交流考古和岩画研究。现主持国家文物局“考古中国”新疆重点项目莫尔寺遗址发掘，国家社科基金冷门绝学项目、北京市社科基金规划重点项目和多项校级及横向项目。发表学术论文40余篇，出版《北城村——冀中平原的新石器时代文化》《具茨山岩画调查报告》《西域考古研究——游牧与定居》等著作6部，《西域考古图记》《穿越时光的符号：中亚岩画的解读》等译著。

Title: "Xiao Xiaoyong: Why is the Kashi Mol Temple Ruins a Witness to the 'Eastward Spread' and 'Westward Gradation' of Buddhism? East-West Question" Text Editor: Cui Bailu Photo Editor: Cui Chuqiao Layout: Liang Jing Editor: Song Fangcan

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