A Selective Chronology for Buddhist Caves in China

Date	Cave	Remarks
4th (?) -7th c.	Kizyl/Qumtura	Obvious Indian influence; "Dome of Heaven," "Lantern Ceiling".
420s	Mogao Cave 272	Gandharan style sculpture; "Dome of Heaven"; "Lantern Ceiling".
450s	Mogao Cave 259	("Treasure Stupa" from Lotus Sutra; "Han style" and Indian style frames for niches.
460s-470s	Yungang	Indian style facades; pagoda pillars; "western" style decorative elements; Gandharan style sculpture; Hindu deities; theme of "Treasure Stupa" from Lotus Sutra.
470s	Mogao Cave 254	Stupa pillar; Sivi and Mahsattva Jatakas.
535-545	Mogao Cave 249	Ceiling imagery mixes Chinese tradition and Buddhist belief; note Xiwangmu, Queen Mother of the West.
538-539	Mogao Cave 285	Vihara architecture; Indian deities; ceiling imagery with Chinese traditional iconography.
565-576	Mogao Cave 428	Stupa pillar; gable roof; decorative "Lantern" ceiling
642	Mogao Cave 220	Vimalakirti/Manjusri; early image of Western Paradise of Amitayus/Amitabha; cave repainted in 9th-10th century with Khotanese "miraculous icons".
690s	Mogao Cave 96	The "Great Northern Buddha," a female Buddha Maitreya built by orders of Empress Wu.
710-720	Mogao Cave 217	Western Paradise, accompanied by Queen Vaihedi's meditations; Lotus Sutra, including Parable of Conjured City.
mid-8th c.	Mogao Cave 45	Avalokitesvara/Guanyin and illustration of "Gateway to Universal Salvation" chapter of Lotus Sutra.
? 2nd half 9th c.	Mogao Cave 237	Khotanese miraculous icons.
865	Mogao Cave 156	Honoring Zhang Yichao; his military procession.
892	Mogao Cave 9	Khotanese icons in corridor.
914-925	Mogao Cave 98	Dedic. by Cao Yijin; image of King of Khotan [possibly 936].
947-951	Mogao Cave 61	Dedic. by Cao Yuanzhong; full wall picture of Manjusri's Mountain--Mt. Wutai and its monasteries.
1308-1311	Mogao Cave 465	Tibetan esoteric imagery.