Master Peng and interpreter Xiao Zhang were both excellent, and Master Peng also recommended a local air-raid shelter hotpot to us

Master Peng and interpreter Xiao Zhang were both excellent, and Master Peng also recommended a local air-raid shelter hotpot to us 😆

Hidden among the mountains and cliffs of Dazu, Chongqing, lies an epic history of civilization carved in stone. As an artistic treasure inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999, the Dazu Rock Carvings depict the pinnacle of late Chinese grotto art with over 50,000 statues and more than 100,000 characters of inscriptions . From the chiseling sounds of the early Tang Dynasty to the flourishing period of the Song Dynasty, over a thousand years have solidified into eternity on these rock walls.

What is most captivating here is the profound integration of art and life. The Thousand-Hand Guanyin's more than eight hundred arms unfurl like lotuses, each hand's posture precise and dynamic, truly a "wonder of the world"; the Nirvana of Sakyamuni depicts the subtle interplay of reality and illusion with its half-body composition, the 31-meter-long Buddha figure receding into the cliff, fully embodying the "art beyond the painting" aesthetic of the East . Even more remarkable is its worldly warmth; the Parents' Kindness Sutra depicts scenes of life such as pregnancy protection and endless nurturing carved into the stone, allowing Confucian filial piety and Buddhist doctrines to coexist here.

The greatness of the Dazu Rock Carvings also lies in their cultural inclusiveness. Statues of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism coexist on the same cliff; the Six Paths of Reincarnation illustrate Buddhist karma, the Huayan Trinity displays solemn dharma forms, while figures like the flute player and chicken keeper exude a vibrant common touch, forming a rare tableau of cultural fusion. The artisans also integrated science into art; the structural design of Manjushri Bodhisattva holding a pagoda, with its kasaya supporting it, has remained stable for millennia, bearing witness to the wisdom and ingenuity of the ancients.

This cliff face is not only an art sanctuary but also a beacon of civilization. It marks the completion of the sinicization process of grotto art, leaving behind irreplaceable historical and scientific value for future generations, truly deserving of the title "Pearl of Oriental Art."

Post by Neon~Bell | Oct 20, 2025