general layout
There are more than 2,300 grottoes and niches on the cliff, and there are 65,438+10,000 Buddha statues, ranging in size from a few centimeters to 654.38+07 meters, with more than 2,800 inscriptions, making it the largest such building complex in China. Most caves are carved on the Longmen Mountain on the west side of the Yi River. The density of grottoes and niches there is so great that from a distance, they give the cliff surface an incredible honeycomb appearance. The grottoes in the west are used to worship the dead, and the Xiangshan Grottoes in the east are the gathering places of monks of various factions.
There are 2,300 grottoes and niches, 65,438+10,000 Buddha statues and more than 2,800 inscriptions on the cliffs at the scene.
Social reflection
Carving grottoes on remote hillsides as Buddhist temples is a practice that originated in India. The 3rd century BC. Buddhism was introduced into China along the Silk Road with the practice of grotto carving, which influenced the formation of Yungang Buddhist grottoes near Pingcheng (now Datong), the capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty, in the middle of the 5th century. In 493, Emperor Xiaowen, the sculptor of Yungang Grottoes, moved the capital from Pingcheng to Luoyang and dug grottoes in Longmen.
In the oldest grottoes in Guyangdong, many statues were built by members of the royal family who followed Emperor Xiaowen to Luoyang. There are more than 1000 Buddhist niches and more than 800 inscriptions in the cave, which is one of the richest caves in Longmen, reflecting the carving and writing style in the late Northern Wei Dynasty. The two bodhisattvas (monks) of Gautama, Siddhartha, Central China, are gloomy and slim, which is in sharp contrast with Yungang's broad-shouldered modeling in his early years. The inscription attached to the statue of Guyangdong contains 19 of the 20 inscriptions in the Northern Wei Dynasty, which is very important to determine the source of each work.
After the demise of the Northern Wei Dynasty (AD 535), the grotto carving slowed down until the formation of the Tang Dynasty (AD 6 18), which was the beginning of a stable and prosperous period marked by important cultural achievements. During this period, the ascetic style of the Northern Wei Dynasty gave way to realism, drama and intricate style, forming about 60% of the Longmen Grottoes. The largest and most spectacular one is Fengxian Temple Cave. A huge Peluzena Buddha statue is carved in the central hole of the back wall, which is known as the "Mona Lisa of the East" because of its quiet and elegant smile. On both sides of the statue of Peruzena are a group of disciples and bodhisattvas, as well as a group of heavenly kings and guardians carved on the side wall, forming a semicircle. Given that each statue has a distinctly different but equally expressive personality, standing in the center of the crowd and facing the Buddha is a truly awesome experience. The grotto was completed in 675 AD and donated by Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu Zetian (the first reigning empress in China) to commemorate their ancestors.
By providing people with sufficient financial resources with the ability to worship Buddha statues and passing on their merits to designated beneficiaries, usually emperors or parents, the sculpture art of Longmen finally achieved its spiritual purpose. The patrons of these figures represent a wide range of social strata-royal family, court officials, military generals, monks, nuns, craftsmen and laymen-and many of them attach inscriptions to describe their motives and methods of making commissions. By choosing the theme and style of images and conveying their stories through inscriptions, ancient donors left a vivid portrayal of the society in this area thousands of years ago.
Famous caves
Besides Guyang Cave and Fengxian Temple Cave, there are several places that are particularly worth mentioning. The three caves in Binyang (north, middle and south) excavated shortly after the Northern Wei Dynasty moved its capital to Luoyang were presented by Emperor Xuanwu in memory of his father Emperor Xiaowen and his mother Zhao Wen. Different from the characters in Guyangdong, the characters in Binyangdong are in the style of the early Northern Wei Dynasty, which is closer to those in Yungang Grottoes. The work of the pharmacy cave began in the period between the Northern Wei Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty, including carving 140 medical prescriptions of the Tang Dynasty-the actual treatment methods from cholera to hysteria. These therapies spread to Japan in the 10 century, revealing that medical science did not make progress until the Tang Dynasty.
The Wanfo Cave was built shortly after the completion of Fengxian Temple. It was built in memory of Emperor Gaozong and Wu Zetian. It is said that there are 65,438+05,000 small sitting Buddha statues carved in a huge grid of small Buddha niches covering several walls. The main patrons of the cave include a female court official and a nun in the court chapel. Guan Jing Temple Grottoes, the largest grottoes in the east, are different from many other large grottoes, and there are no large Buddha statues carved. Instead, a row of life-size arhats (those who have gone far on the road of enlightenment) extend around the periphery of the cave, each with a unique expression, carving the grottoes of that era in an evocative and highly detailed style found in other Tang Dynasties.
protect
One can only imagine the spectacular Longmen Grottoes in the Tang Dynasty, where thousands of newly completed sculptures were painted with colorful colors. Unfortunately, some natural and human forces have weakened, although in many cases they have not been destroyed, the original artist's intention. The natural causes of damage include acid rain corrosion, wind abrasion and natural cracks in limestone, which are aggravated by plant growth and water seepage.
Although there is evidence that the destruction of statues began in the13rd century, there was a large-scale robbery in the early 20th century. Grave robbers give the heads and hands of larger figures or the whole smaller figures to art dealers in Beijing and Xi, who then sell them to foreign art collectors and museums. The restoration of this site didn't begin until the establishment of People's Republic of China (PRC), which eventually led to the restoration of Fengxian Temple Grottoes in 197 1. In order to prevent collapse and flood, the statue was reinforced, the original drainage channel was restored, a roof was built above the grottoes, and waterproof materials were added to the statue. In 2000, the site was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Just like pilgrims who go to Longmen to worship Buddha or worship Buddha statues, these grottoes give modern tourists the opportunity to get closer to people's lives in different times and are full of awe of human ability and determination.