What is the significance of decorative painting in Mogao Grottoes?

There are many decorative patterns painted on the top of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, including animal patterns, plant patterns, geometric patterns, moire patterns, figure patterns, etc., which are ingenious in change and rigorous in structure.

Most of these patterns are symbolic, such as lotus, which was used for decoration in India very early. In Buddhist art, it symbolizes pure land. Because the lotus leaves the mud but is not stained, everything that enters the bliss world is naturally transformed from the lotus to show the purity of the soul.

Every cave in Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes has a patio and a "ceiling". In different times, Dunhuang patterns have different styles and patterns.