Mogao Cave 17

Mogao Cave 17 was constructed during Late Tang period (848-907 AD). This Library Cave we do not know when and who built it, and why it was sealded up. Cave 17 is the world-famous Library Cave', discovered by Taoist Wang Yuanlu in 22 June, 1900. This south-facing cave lies in the south wall of the corridor of cave 16, about three meters high with a ground size of some 2. 8 square meters and a truncated pyramidal ceiling. A rectangle altar is constructed against the north wall on which rests an image of the great monk Hong Bian. A stele with an inscription dated the Dazhong 5th year (851) about Hong Bian is set into the west wall.
Hong Bian is a great monk active during Middle and Late Tang periods. Zhang Yichao had sent some bhiksus including Wuzhen to inform the central government at Chang'an after he reoccupied the Hexi regions, and Hong Bian was appointed Chief of Monks in Hexi and Dean of Shazhou, with the title "High priest 1o All Altars Inside and Outside the Capital" and granted the right 1o wear a purple Kasaya by the emperor. The sculpture (94cm x 74cm x 60cm) in patched robe looks like a common person but solemn and natural with fish-tailed folds at the corner of eyes and closed mouth. This image is completely detached from the wall, which did not follow the rule of representing Buddhist images such as the laksana-vyanjana, from this we can infer that it is a portrait, probably made by his disciples after his nirvana.
Based on various materials, scholars have put forward many hypotheses as to when and why the Library Cave was sealed up because no reliable materials are available. These hypotheses include opinions suggesting it was to avoid the attack of the Western Xia, or was abandoned, or was a reconstruction of the library. The most influential opinion is the first one put forward by Pelliot in 1908. He inferred this cave to be sealed up before 1035 based on the fact that latest manuscripts inside date from Song and no Tangut manuscripts are found there.