交河沟北一号台地石窟调查简报

The Brief Report of Grottoes I to the North Yar Site

交河沟北一号台地石窟位于交河故城以北的一号台地东南边缘处,居交河故城与盐山之间,东北隔阿斯喀瓦孜河谷与交河故城相望,西南以伊什果勒沟(三道沟)与盐山毗邻,东距吐鲁番市10千米(图1),地理坐标为:北纬42°57’38",东经89°3’17",海拔90米(图2)。

There are 7 caves now exist in Grottoes I to the north yar site,of which No.l and 2 are rectangular vertical vaulted ceiling,No.3 is the central temple,and No.4 to 7 are the remains of monasteries.No.3 central temple,the left and right sides of the front room remain walls,the front of the main room is a rectangular horizontal vaulted ceiling,the back of the main room is a square hall with dome top and irregular tunnel.The square hall is painted with frescoes,and the dome has a large lotus pattern on top.There are 32 thousand Buddhas in 2 circles around.There are 4 lokapala images,15 Bodhisattva images in the middle and lower part of the cave wall,and 6 flying Asaras images in the upper part of Lokapala and Bodhisattva.This cave is the only cave seen during the brief occupation of Xizhou by Tibetan.It is a strong evidence and historical data of its activities in Turpan.It has important historical value for studying the transfer of state power in Tang Xizhou and the border management of the Tang Dynasty in the late eighth century.