Dubbing the Chinese program to launch an international cave restoration project Buddhist caves, carved into cliffs, often bearing intricate wall paintings – along the ancient Silk Road is a deeply flawed step, as is mere propaganda. Indian denounced any success of such a program without India.

China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration has signed an agreement with Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran to improve cross-border exchanges on cave temple conservation.

According to reports from Pakistan, around 635 cave sites were recently discovered across China during the first nationwide investigation into the status of these ancient sites. The findings follow a September 2020 study, which found that there are 5,986 cave sites in the country. Of these 288 sites have key heritage site status at the national level, while 417 have been listed for protection at the provincial level.

The cave sites represent a powerful spiritual link between India and China. One of the prime examples of the penetration of Indian Buddhist rock art into China are the Magao Caves in Dunhuang, China.

Carved out of solid rock in the middle of the dried up Gobi Desert, hundreds of caves, whose walls have been intricately painted with magnificent statues, are part of the International Buddhist Route originating in India. Dunhuang Caves are very similar to the magnificent Ajanta Caves in India, which predate Chinese construction.

Buddhist monks, merchants and artists intrepid with robbers and natural barriers traveled from India along the famous “southern route” which joined the main artery of the Silk Road from Xian to east to Venice in the west.

Southern silk has its source on the coast of Maharashtra, then moves north towards Leh, crosses the Karakoram Pass and heads to Kashgar in Xinjiang. From there, he heads to Yarkand, enters the famous Jade Gate, and sneaks up to the oasis of Dunhuang.

In an apparent exercise of cultural appropriation, instead of India, China projects itself as the epicenter, magnifying the entrenchment of Buddhism in Gandharan art sites in present-day Pakistan, instead to amplify the roots of the great religion in India and Nepal.

China’s effort to globalize Buddhism in order to expand its soft power in South and Southeast Asia is evident. China regularly hosts meetings of the World Buddhist Forum. He planned to build the city of Lingshan as the Vatican for Buddhism.

China is said to have a powerful influence on the functioning of the World Buddhist Sangha Council, which was founded in Sri Lanka in 1966. In countries where Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism flourishes, the Chinese are once again trying to revive to Buddhist institutions through major repairs and renovations. projects. By strengthening its soft power, the Chinese hope to launch projects under their Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Buddhist countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

In India, there is a serious attempt, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to revive the country’s Buddhist heritage. In October, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Kushinagar International Airport in Uttar Pradesh with the landing of a Sri Lankan Airlines flight from Colombo that brought more than 100 Buddhist monks and dignitaries to the city. of Mahaparinirvana of Lord Buddha in Uttar Pradesh.

Representatives from all major Buddhist-practicing countries were present at the inauguration function of Kushinagar, including those from Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bhutan, Thailand and Nepal.

The airport aims to boost tourism on the Buddhist circuit, as the ancient city of Kushinagar is the final resting place of Gautama Buddha, where he reached Mahaparinirvana after his death.

“This region is the witness of the whole journey from the enlightenment of Lord Buddha to Mahaparinirvana. Today, this important region is directly connected to the world, ”Prime Minister Modi said on the occasion.