The story of the Bashu cave guards shows a special group of migrant workers, who silently dedicate themselves to protecting the ancient grottoes, regardless of treatment, just to inherit the culture and keep the treasures of history. These cave guards run on the cliffs and cliffs, enduring great loneliness and hardship, but they have no regrets and regard responsibility above all else.
The excavation of the caves originated in India and is a product of Buddhist beliefs. In China, after the introduction of cave art, there are not only the famous "Four Great Grottoes", but also many less famous but equally precious grottoes. Although the Bashu Grottoes are not as large as those in the north, they exude a strong local flavor and were built by the common people, representing the piety of the ancient people.
There are many grottoes in the Bashu area, and the number is the largest in the country. These grottoes vary in size, some are hidden deep in the mountains, as if playing hide and seek, unassuming but full of fireworks. Photographer Yuan Rongsun spent 18 years traveling all over the country, looking for the unknown statues of Buddhist caves in the barren mountains and mountains, the most of which are the Bashu Grottoes.
Behind these grottoes is a reflection of the prosperity of the ancient Bashu region, especially after the Tang Dynasty, Bashu became a paradise for Buddhism. The common people joined the excavation army and built grottoes of different sizes according to their personal abilities, and were called cave masters. These grottoes have been preserved for thousands of years and tell the story of historical changes.
However, the preservation of the grottoes also faces some difficulties, including natural disasters, wars and man-made disasters. Many of the grottoes have not been well preserved by the erosion of time, and the intact grottoes have become more and more scarce. At this time, the cave keepers became valuable cultural relics keepers, and they stayed by the grotto for a long time, not sparing any hardships to protect these precious cultural heritages. They selflessly donate their time to pass on this responsibility from one generation to the next.
Some of these cave guards have been guarding a grotto all their lives, some are guarded by a family, some are the entire temple, or even a group of people jointly fund the construction. Their salaries are meager, but they think that guarding the grottoes is accumulating merit and is a meaningful thing. Many of the cave guards are elderly, and their descendants will continue this responsibility, forming a cultural heritage that has been passed down from generation to generation.
Some of these cave guards resolutely returned home because the national treasure was unguarded, and some of them set up their homes near the grotto to better protect the grotto. In the process of guarding the grotto, they not only had to guard against thieves, but also had to deal with bad weather, and some even had to stay out of the grotto for 24 hours. Although their wages are meager, they see it as something meaningful and meritorious. The perseverance of these cave guards has prevented many grottoes from being damaged and has been passed down to this day for people to watch and visit, and the Buddhist culture that has been inherited for thousands of years can still be felt.
The stories of these cave guards are awe-inspiring, and their selfless dedication has made an important contribution to the preservation of cultural heritage. They are unknown, but they are the most extreme migrant workers in China, guarding the memory of history with a lifetime.