The Funerary Context of Mogao Cave 17

Mogao Cave 17, a sealed site within the Mogao cave complex, has been re-evaluated to focus on its funerary function. This study challenges previous assumptions by emphasizing its role as a Buddhist funerary shrine, where books and religious objects were interred as relics. The research highlights the importance of considering funerary practices in understanding the contents of Cave 17, providing new insights into Buddhist rituals involving stūpas and shrines in Eastern Central Asia, China, and Tibet.

Doumy, M., & van Schaik, S. (2024). The Funerary Context of Mogao Cave 17. Buddhism in Central Asia III, 373–400. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004687288_013