Publications
The Impact of Augmented Reality Tourism on Tourist Experience and Behavior —A Case Study of the Mogao Caves Cultural Heritage
Augmented reality (AR) tourism significantly enhances visitor experiences and behavioral intentions at the Mogao Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its cave art. Research reveals that high-quality content, system stability, and interactive design in AR applications positively influence tourist satisfaction and engagement, often surpassing expectations. These findings underscore AR's potential to balance heritage conservation with tourism development, offering new opportunities for sustainable cultural preservation. The study employed a quantitative approach, analyzing 400 offline questionnaires using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to validate relationships between AR factors, tourist experiences, and behavioral intentions.
A Study on the Influence of the 8th Century A.D. Image of Feitian in the Mogao Caves on the Character Design of Modern Chinese Films
Modern Chinese film character design draws significant inspiration from the Flying Sky image of the 8th century A.D. at the Mogao Caves, demonstrating how traditional art can be innovatively reinterpreted through contemporary media. This study reveals that while direct copying of ancient art may not fully capture its potential, revolutionary inheritance—such as dissemination via modern platforms—enhances its cultural value and artistic impact. Researchers employed observational analysis, investigation, and comparative stylistic examination to bridge historical aesthetics with modern animation techniques, highlighting the Mogao Caves' murals as a rich resource for contemporary creative expression.
Body, Scale, and Space: Study on the Spatial Construction of Mogao Cave 254
A study of Mogao Cave 254 reveals how the spatial constraints and scale of the cave influence pilgrim behavior and time–space perception, offering new insights into the architectural and religious significance of Buddhist caves. Researchers analyzed the relationship between body scale, pilgrim movement, and temporal perception using a space model derived from previous measurements. This approach integrates design, construction, and usage phases to demonstrate how physical dimensions shape spiritual experience. The findings underscore the cave's dual value as both a material heritage site and a carrier of intangible cultural expressions, providing a framework for preserving its layered historical and religious significance.
Design of the Mogao Caves Caisson and Its Application to Modern Interior Design
Combining traditional caisson motifs from the Mogao Caves with modern interior design enhances aesthetic and humanistic value while enriching emotional expression. This study demonstrates that such integration is feasible, breaking conventional design constraints and revitalizing contemporary design. Researchers used observational and case study methods to analyze the application of these ancient patterns in modern contexts, revealing their potential to elevate both artistic quality and cultural significance.
Effect of abnormal weather on the microenvironment of Mogao Cave 285, Dunhuang
Extreme weather events, particularly abnormal humidity and temperature shifts, significantly threaten the preservation of cultural heritage sites such as the Mogao Caves. A 30-year meteorological analysis of Dunhuang, combined with a one-year monitoring cycle of Cave 285, revealed that prolonged high humidity—even in summer—can push cave relative humidity to unsafe levels above 80%, posing risks to the murals. Modeling confirmed that while abnormally high temperatures do not worsen conditions, sustained low temperatures or high humidity disrupt microclimate stability. Critical findings indicate that dehumidification measures are essential when humidity exceeds thresholds for more than a week, as recovery to safe levels can take up to four days. This study underscores the urgent need for adaptive conservation strategies in response to climate-induced environmental fluctuations.
Research on the Tiles with Patterns of Dunhuang Mogao Cave Art, China
Dunhuang's patterned tiles, unearthed from Sui, Tang, and Yuan dynasty tombs, hold significant ornamental value as integral components of Dunhuang's architectural art. This study reveals their historical evolution and enduring cultural impact, blending individual design with overall architecture. Through field investigations at the Dunhuang Museum and literature reviews, researchers analyzed tiles across various periods to highlight their role in Dunhuang's artistic heritage.
Spatial Dunhuang: experiencing the Mogao Caves
A novel approach to experiencing the Mogao Caves has been introduced through 'Spatial Dunhuang.' This method leverages spatial technologies to enhance the visitor's engagement with the caves' rich cultural and historical significance. The study highlights how immersive spatial experiences can deepen the understanding and appreciation of heritage sites by integrating digital elements with physical exploration. By focusing on the Mogao Caves, renowned for their Buddhist art and architecture, the research demonstrates the potential of spatial technologies to transform traditional tourism into a more interactive and educational journey.
BuddhistRoadPaper 5.6 "Light on ‘Art in the Dark’: On Buddhist Practice and Worship in the Mogao Caves"
A critical reassessment of Robert Sharf's controversial thesis on the Mogao Caves challenges the notion that these Buddhist sites were purely memorial or funerary spaces, arguing instead for their active role in worship and ritual practice. The study scrutinizes Sharf's evidence and speculations, which suggest caves like Mogao were left in darkness to serve as ancestral memorials rather than places of living religious activity. By analyzing cave-art and ritual practices across the Sinitic cultural sphere, this paper aims to clarify the true purpose and function of these sites, with implications for understanding Buddhist ritual traditions and cave-art interpretation.
Materialized Wishes: Long Banner Paintings from the Mogao Caves of Dunhuang
Long banner paintings from Cave 17 of the Mogao Caves, dating back to the ninth and tenth centuries CE, serve as materialized forms of longevity and prosperity. These banners, characterized by their extraordinary length—up to forty-nine chi—and the depiction of multiple bodhisattvas on silk strips, were likely used by donors to fulfill wishes for good health, extended life, sin elimination, and rebirth in the Pure Land. The study examines the physical traits of these banners, including textiles, pigments, and configurations, alongside Buddhist and Daoist scriptures about longevity and repentance. By analyzing the relationship between the banners' materiality and their religious function, the research suggests that the lengthening of the silk strips symbolically extended the donor's lifespan, while the depiction of bodhisattvas amplified spiritual benefits.
Influence of light environment on deterioration of mural paintings in Mogao Cave 285, Dunhuang
Mural paintings in Mogao Cave 285, part of the UNESCO-listed Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, China, exhibit significant deterioration due to environmental factors. Research reveals that hygrothermal conditions and light exposure—particularly UV irradiation—accelerate physical damage such as cracking and color changes, with organic pigments showing pronounced chroma saturation shifts. Experimental simulations on Bengal red, lapis lazuli, and other pigments demonstrated distinct vulnerability patterns: cracks formed predominantly in Bengal red, while salt-induced white crystals emerged universally across pigment layers. The study highlights the critical role of environmental control, especially post-collapses like the one affecting Cave 285's entrance hall, in preserving these irreplaceable cultural artifacts.
The effects of windblown sand on the deterioration of mural paintings in cave 285, in Mogao caves, Dunhuang
Windblown sand, driven by high-velocity winds, is a significant factor in the deterioration of mural paintings on the east wall of Cave 285 in the UNESCO-listed Mogao Caves. Despite being less exposed to moisture and solar radiation compared to other walls, the east wall exhibits notable damage, including detachment, flaking, and fading, attributed to sand adhesion and collision. This study highlights the dual impact of wind velocity on both the physical structure and artistic integrity of the murals, offering critical insights for conservation efforts in arid environments.
Digitizing Dunhuang Cultural Heritage: A User Evaluation of Mogao Cave Panorama Digital Library
A user evaluation of the Mogao Cave Panorama Digital Library (DL) reveals that while it effectively supports simple information-seeking tasks, its performance declines with more complex queries. The study, one of the first to assess cultural heritage digital libraries from a user experience perspective, identifies specific usability issues through statistical analysis and qualitative interviews. It proposes improvements for better user engagement and serves as a methodological reference for evaluating visually centered digital heritage resources.
Effects of Drifting Sand Particles on Deterioration of Mural Paintings on the East Wall of Cave 285 in Mogao Caves, Dunhuang
Research at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mogao Caves identifies wind-driven sand particles as a significant contributor to the deterioration of mural paintings, particularly on the east wall of Cave 285. The study highlights that collision and adhesion of drifting sand particles accelerate the degradation process, posing a threat to the preservation of these irreplaceable Buddhist artworks. Investigators employed a methodical approach to analyze the impact of sand particles on the paintings, focusing on their physical interactions with the surface. This finding underscores the need for targeted conservation strategies to mitigate environmental factors affecting the caves' integrity.
I-m-Cave: An interactive tabletop system for virtually touring Mogao Caves
An innovative multitouch tabletop system, i-m-Cave, revolutionizes virtual exploration of the Mogao Caves by integrating tangible interaction and artifact restoration. The system enables users to navigate intricate cave corners using a unique figurine with human-like neck movements, enhancing immersive exploration. Additionally, it allows for the visualization of artifact aging and restoration through midair gestures and mobile devices, providing insights into the evolution of artifacts over time—an experience unattainable in physical tours. Expert evaluations confirmed the system's effectiveness, highlighting its potential to enrich cultural heritage engagement.
The Sinicization of Dunhuang Mogao Cave Buddhist Art
The Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, China, serve as a visual record of the sinicization process of Indian Buddhism, illustrating how Chinese culture assimilated foreign elements while maintaining its distinct identity. The study highlights the fusion of traditional Han Chinese architectural and artistic styles with Indian Buddhist motifs, such as stupas integrated into wooden structures, reflecting a dynamic cultural exchange during the turbulent period following the collapse of the Han Dynasty (220 AD). Murals and sculptures in Caves 257 and 428 demonstrate this syncretism, including multi-story stupas surrounded by smaller ones, symbolizing the growing complexity and sacred value of Buddhist architecture. The research underscores the rapid acceptance of Chinese Buddhism across East Asia, despite initial resistance to Indian philosophical traditions.
“Pure Land”: Inhabiting the Mogao Caves at Dunhuang
Two innovative exhibition installations, 'Pure Land: Inside the Mogao Grottoes at Dunhuang' and its augmented reality edition, offer immersive digital experiences of Cave 220, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its vulnerable yet invaluable collection of paintings and sculptures. By integrating high-resolution archaeological datasets—including photography and 3D models—with interactive display systems, these installations provide visitors with transformative, personalized encounters that advance cultural heritage preservation. The projects exemplify new strategies for interpreting heritage landscapes, leveraging phenomenology and panoramic immersion to redefine virtual heritage experiences.
Spatial user interface for experiencing Mogao caves
A novel spatial user interface, Pure Land AR, enables immersive virtual exploration of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Mogao Caves using handheld devices. This installation leverages augmented reality (AR) to provide users with an interactive experience, allowing them to virtually visit and engage with the historic site. Deployed in museums and galleries, it demonstrates the potential for spatial interfaces to enhance cultural heritage accessibility. User responses indicate positive reception, highlighting the effectiveness of this approach in bridging physical and digital experiences.
Actors and the multiple imaginaries on the tourist sites: a case study of the Mogao Caves, Dunhuang, China
Tourism imaginaries at UNESCO World Heritage Sites are not merely individual constructs but are shaped by actors' practices and socially negotiated. A study of the Mogao Caves, Dunhuang, China, reveals three dominant symbolic spaces—art, national, and religious—that each engage distinct tourism imaginaries and practices. The research extends Tim Edensor's framework by integrating 'actors' into the analysis, demonstrating how these imaginaries coexist, compete, or align within a single site. The Dunhuang Academy emerges as an institutional actor whose practices reflect a network of meaning composed of diverse imaginaries, often referencing different imagined geographies. This approach highlights the complexity and dynamism of tourism imaginaries in heritage sites.
Molecular characterization of airborne fungi in caves of the Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang, China
A year-long study of the Mogao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Dunhuang, China, revealed significant seasonal and spatial variations in airborne fungal communities. The research identified 11 dominant fungal genera, with Cladosporium being the most prevalent, followed by Fusarium, Penicillium, Alternaria, and Aspergillus. Fungal abundance and diversity were strongly influenced by environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and visitor activity. The study used molecular techniques—specifically ITS sequencing—to analyze samples collected monthly from four distinct cave environments (open, semi-open, closed, and entrance) between 2008 and 2009. Findings highlight the dynamic interplay between microclimate, human presence, and fungal ecology in this culturally significant but ecologically sensitive site.
Family Space: Buddhist Materiality and Ancestral Fashioning in Mogao Cave 231
Mogao Caves, particularly Cave 231, exhibit a unique integration of family references into Buddhist art and architecture from the ninth century, representing a significant shift in medieval Chinese religious space. This study reveals that cave temples served as hybrid spaces where ancestral commemoration and Buddhist devotion intersected through figural representations, epigraphic inscriptions, and decorative elements like domestic furniture. By analyzing these visual and textual cues, researchers demonstrate how Mogao Caves functioned as a multifacetional environment, blending the sacred with familial memory while bridging the boundaries between image, object, and architecture.
Seasonal dynamics of airborne fungi in different caves of the Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang, China
A study on the Mogao Caves reveals that visitor activity significantly influences airborne fungal concentrations and compositions. Researchers found higher levels of culturable fungi, particularly Cladosporium spp., Penicillium spp., Alternaria spp., and Aspergillus spp., in closed caves (CC) and outdoor areas (OD), with seasonal variations peaking in summer and autumn. Positive correlations were observed between fungal levels and temperature or visitor numbers, while negative correlations were noted with relative humidity and rainfall. This insight underscores the importance of considering human impact in conservation efforts for such heritage sites.
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