The Longmen Grottoes, located in Luoyang, Henan Province, China, are one of the finest examples of Chinese Buddhist art. The site comprises the West Hill Grottoes, the East Hill Grottoes, the Bai Garden, and the Xiangshan Temple. Carved into limestone cliffs along the Yi River, the site features over 2,300 caves and niches filled with thousands of Buddha statues, inscriptions, and steles dating back to the Northern Wei and Tang dynasties. Recognized by UNESCO as the pinnacle of Chinese stone carving art, the grottoes reflect artistic, spiritual, and cultural achievements spanning centuries. Today, they face growing threats from climate change and environmental erosion. They are closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 13: Climate Action, and SDG 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage), calling for proactive measures to protect our shared cultural treasures in the face of climate change.
The Longmen Grottoes, located in Luoyang, Henan Province, China, are one of the finest examples of Chinese Buddhist art. The site comprises the Xishan Grottoes, Dongshan Grottoes, Baiyuan Garden, and Xiangshan Temple. Carved into limestone cliffs along the Yi River, the site features over 2,300 caves and niches filled with thousands of Buddha statues, inscriptions, and steles dating back to the Northern Wei and Tang dynasties. Recognized by UNESCO as the pinnacle of Chinese stone carving art, the grottoes reflect artistic, spiritual, and cultural achievements spanning centuries. Today, they face growing threats from climate change and environmental erosion. They are closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 13: Climate Action, and SDG 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage), calling for proactive measures to protect our shared cultural treasures in the face of climate change.
The Longmen Grottoes, located in Luoyang, Henan Province, China, are one of the finest examples of Chinese Buddhist art. The site comprises the Xishan Grottoes, Dongshan Grottoes, Baiyuan Garden, and Xiangshan Temple. Carved into limestone cliffs along the Yi River, the site features over 2,300 caves and niches filled with thousands of Buddha statues, inscriptions, and steles dating back to the Northern Wei and Tang dynasties. Recognized by UNESCO as the pinnacle of Chinese stone carving art, the grottoes reflect artistic, spiritual, and cultural achievements spanning centuries. Today, they face growing threats from climate change and environmental erosion.
Nvshu, literally “women’s writing,” is an intangible unique syllabic script derived from Chinese characters. It originated in Jiangyong County, Hunan Province in China, during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Created and used exclusively by women, this script is characterized by its rhomboid shape and delicate, thread-like strokes. The way of writing Nüshu is usually vertically from right to left. This writing style is in contrast to that of Chinese characters, aligns with women’s spiritual needs and seems to be the resistance against traditional norms and the patriarchal system. Nüshu served as a medium for women to express emotions and fold raditions, share personal narratives, build female solidarity, particularly through letters and ongs. Some are inscribed on fans, handkerchiefs, and cloth. This world’s only gender-exclusive writing system represents a form of intangible cultural heritage. It holds immense linguistic, anthropological, and feminist significance, offering insights into marginalized women’s resilience and creativity
Nüshu, meaning "women's writing," is a rare syllabic script that developed from Chinese characters. It emerged in Jiangyong County, Hunan Province, during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Created and used exclusively by women, Nüshu is distinguished by its slender, rhomboid-shaped characters and fine, thread-like strokes. Traditionally, it is written vertically from right to left, differing from standard Chinese writing. This unique script not only met women’s personal and emotional needs but also reflected a quiet defiance against societal norms and the patriarchal system. Nüshu served as a means for women to share their thoughts, document traditions, and maintain connections, particularly through letters and songs. Many of these writings were inscribed on fans, handkerchiefs, and cloth. As the world’s only known gender-specific writing system, Nüshu is a valuable piece of intangible cultural heritage. It holds significant linguistic, anthropological, and feminist importance, offering insight into the resilience and creativity of marginalized women.
Nüshu is a women's-only script that was passed down from mothers to their daughters in feudal-society China
Immovable Culture Heritage,Intangible Heritage
Nüshu, a script exclusive to women, was traditionally transmitted from mothers to daughters in feudal China.
This mural is a replica exhibit based on the original Buddhist wall paintings found in the Mogao Caves, also known as the Thousand Buddha Grottoes, located near Dunhuang, China. The original murals were created between the 4th and 14th centuries, featuring rich iconography of Buddhist narratives, devotional figures, and multicultural artistic influences from the Silk Road. This replica was produced for educational and exhibition purposes to promote awareness of Dunhuang’s cultural significance. While the physical replica is movable, the original artworks are considered immovable cultural heritage and are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Generations of Buddhist monks and artisans along the Silk Road
This image shows a mural exhibit from the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, on display at the National Art Museum of China. The original mural is part of a vast collection of Buddhist wall paintings created between the 4th and 14th centuries, located in grottoes carved into the cliffs along the ancient Silk Road. These artworks reflect the spiritual and artistic exchanges between Chinese, Central Asian, and Indian cultures. The mural shown here is a replica or display version, curated for public exhibition and educational outreach. As such, it is categorized as “Movable Cultural Heritage”, whereas the original site of the Mogao Caves constitutes “Immovable Cultural Heritage”. This distinction is crucial in heritage documentation and digital preservation. The image was uploaded as part of a cultural heritage mapping project for academic and non-commercial use.