electra-supply.comIn a recent interview, Professor Xiao Xiaoyong, head of the archaeological excavation team at the Mo’er Temple site, shared insights into why this landmark is considered a testimony to the transmission of Buddhism to the East and the West.
**Interviewer:** Could you provide an overview of the Mo’er Temple site? What significant findings have emerged from recent excavations?
**Professor Xiao Xiaoyong:** The Mo’er Temple site is located approximately 33 kilometers northeast of downtown Kashgar, on a floodplain in the southeastern part of the ancient Matag Mountains. The site spans about 40,000 square meters, with a length of around 300 meters and a width of about 170 meters. The western side features a steep cliff, with a vast floodplain below and a river flowing nearby. Unfortunately, wind and rain have severely eroded the site, leaving only two weathered pagodas and some scattered wall remnants and pottery shards visible on the surface.
From 2019 to 2023, with the approval of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, our team from Minzu University of China collaborated with the Xinjiang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology to conduct significant excavations. Between 2019 and 2022, we uncovered a large complex of temple buildings along with thousands of fragments of plaster Buddha statues, and collected numerous botanical and zoological samples for dating. This work has deepened our understanding of the site’s layout, structure, and historical evolution. We found evidence of various building types—stupa bases, monk quarters, Buddha halls, and kitchens. The most abundant artifacts were plaster Buddha statue fragments, alongside pottery, metal, stone, wood, and bone items.
From June 2 to October 1, 2023, archaeologists worked on the site for 121 days, yielding over 7,000 artifacts, including pottery shards and small items, along with several groundbreaking discoveries.
**Interviewer:** As one of the earliest Buddhist sites discovered in Xinjiang, can you elaborate on the historical significance of the Mo’er Temple? In what ways does it demonstrate the Eastward and Westward transmission of Buddhism?
**Professor Xiao:** The two pagodas at Mo’er Temple—a round one and a square one—show influences from Gandhara architecture, though they utilized locally sourced adobes for construction. The site features a three-tiered square base topped by a round base, with no sculptures on the base itself. This combination reflects the adaptation to local conditions. Our excavations have revealed a large complex of monastery buildings, which we have analyzed to identify three distinct phases of development, each with unique characteristics.
The first phase, dating back to about the mid-3rd century, includes construction styles indicative of Indian and Central Asian designs, such as the domed reliquaries and multi-room monk quarters unique to the Kashgar region. This reflects the historical Eastward transmission of Indian Buddhism.
The second phase, spanning the 4th to 6th centuries, saw the addition of square-shaped Buddha halls typical of the Tarim Basin region, as well as possibly kitchen facilities. This phase may also include the construction of the square pagoda, which appears somewhat isolated and lacks continuous stratification, suggesting it could date from an earlier or later period. During this time, local Buddhist practices evolved from a focus on relic worship to the veneration of Buddha images, influenced by Gandhara’s styles while also revealing local artistic elements, such as a wooden artifact depicting a six-toed foot, reminiscent of descriptions of the Shule royal family.
The third phase, beginning in the 7th century, marks the temple’s peak. Many earlier structures were either maintained or expanded upon, and a large Buddha hall was built adjacent to the monk quarters. This hall is uniquely rectangular, featuring a central chamber flanked by rooms on both ends, and it faces northeast. Preliminary assessments suggest its design may have drawn influence from Central Plains architectural styles. In this hall were large Buddha statues, surpassing human size, which, despite retaining Gandharan characteristics, also exhibit rounder features typical of Tang Dynasty styles, indicating the influence of Westward transmission of Buddhism.
Additionally, we uncovered a significant quantity of round and square-hole copper coins, such as the wuzhu and Kaiyuan Tongbao, along with wooden combs and hairpins reflecting Central Plain cultural presence in daily life at the temple.
**Interviewer:** Kashgar, the location of the Mo’er Temple site, is one of the areas where Buddhism first entered China and served as a key center for ancient Buddhism in the western regions. What is its significance in the context of Buddhism’s introduction to China?
**Professor Xiao:** Historically known as Shule, Kashgar sits at the crossroads of the northern and southern Silk Road routes and is geographically close to Gandhara, making it a crucial point for the Eastward transmission of Buddhism. During the Han and Tang dynasties, Kashgar flourished as a hub of Buddhist activity. When the Tang monk Xuanzang traveled through, he noted the presence of hundreds of temple sites with thousands of monks, establishing it as one of the primary Buddhist centers in the region. It’s accurate to say that prior to the 10th century, Buddhism was the predominant religion in the Kashgar area, marking Shule as a pivotal location in the history of Chinese Buddhism.
Archaeological findings show that after Buddhism entered Xinjiang, it rapidly established a cultural transmission center in Kashgar, influencing areas such as Kucha and beyond. This laid the groundwork for Buddhism’s continued spread into the Hexi Corridor and the Central Plains, where it engaged in significant cultural exchange, merging with local traditions.
**Interviewer:** Xinjiang has always been a region of religious diversity and cultural richness. How does the Mo’er Temple site exemplify the integration and coexistence of various cultural dimensions within Chinese civilization?
**Professor Xiao:** The excavations at the Mo’er Temple site represent a major discovery in Buddhist archaeology along the Silk Road, contributing invaluable primary data for studying the cultural exchanges, the evolution of Buddhist belief systems, and the life of ancient monastic communities in Xinjiang, particularly in the Kashgar area during the Han and Tang dynasties. Furthermore, the site reflects the influence of Central Plain culture on Xinjiang.
After Buddhism’s introduction, the region also experienced the arrival of Islamic and Christian cultures, each leaving a robust historical legacy. The archaeological findings at Mo’er Temple reveal the process of Buddhism’s proliferation in ancient Xinjiang, confirming that this area has long been a melting pot of multiple ethnic groups and diverse cultural expressions, showcasing the multilateral and integrative characteristics of Chinese civilization.
