Gansu The Guazhou East Thousand Buddha Caves Fifth Cave

The subject of the paper is East Qianfodong's fifth grotto and its fresco. East Qianfodong belonging to one of cave grottoes around Dunhuang is located in two sides of canyon and river deposit in Qiaozi township, Guazhou county, Gansu province. The grotto was built during the time of Xi Xia and full of beautiful fresco. Not only it has significant art and historical value, but also is important materials of studying on Xi Xia's religion and relations between Xi Xia and other ethnic groups. The paper will examine and do research to a number of residual frescoes in East Qianfodong's fifth grotto through three aspects.In the first part,I will adopt a number of historical documents to explain and textual criticize about belief condition in Hexi region during the time of Xi Xia and relations between Xixia and other ethnic groups about politics, economics, culture and religion through historical perspectiveIn the second part, I will take methods of archaeology and history to arrange and describe all residual frescoes scientifically and to distinguish the identity of Buddha statues and discuss the form of the grotto.In the third part, based on above work, I will study initially on a serial of problems which are reflected from East Qianfodong and its fresco.