Shanxi. Gaoping City. Shitanghui Grottoes

The grottoes face south with their backs to the north. Currently, 6 caves remain, with caves 1, 2, and 3 from the west being Buddhist caves featuring Northern Dynasty grotto statue styles. They all have rectangular floor plans with inverted-bowl shaped ceilings decorated with painted lotus flower patterns. The cave entrances are rectangular with flame-shaped lintels, and two guardian figures carved on both sides of the doors. Inside Cave No. 3, low platforms are set on all four sides, with niches for Buddha statues carved into the north, east, and west walls. Each niche contains one Buddha with two attendants. The outer walls of the three niches are fully carved with thousands of Buddha images, and the names of donors are inscribed on both sides of the door on the south wall. About 60 meters to the east, there are 3 more stone caves. Two of them were carved in the 32nd year of the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty (1604), with inscriptions reading "Three Teachings Cave," "Three Virtues Cave," and "High Cave." The clay sculptures inside these caves have been completely destroyed. Currently, 3 stone tablets recording the creation of these three caves still remain.

Post by Antonietta Hermiston | Apr 29, 2025