Xinjiang Buddhist Frescoes

XINJIANG, CHINA, MAY : May, 1995, Cave n°171, Kyzyl, Xinjiang, China. The caves are always conceived the same way. On this photograph, we can clearly see their structure. A central pillar sheltering an image of Buddha, divides the antrum into two chambers, opening like two corridors. It constitutes a sort of ambulatory that the believers crossed over, turning clockwise around the Buddha. The Sage's effigy was placed in the first and largest, sumptuously decorated chamber, in a niche carved high at the centre of the pillar. It generally took the shape of a statue - partially or totally destroyed today - or like here a mural painting. Fascinated, the Uighur guardian observes the remains of this Sage portrait. (Photo by Reza/Getty Images)