Yungang Grottoes is one of eight wonders of the world. Yungang Grottoes is one of the largest grottoes in China, and it is also known as the four artistic treasures of China, together with Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, Luoyang Longmen Grottoes and Maijishan Grottoes.
Located at the south foot of Wuzhou Mountain, about 0/6 km west of Datong City, Shanxi Province, it is carved by the mountain and stretches for about one kilometer from east to west, with great momentum and rich content. The main cave is 5 1, and there are more than 5 100 statues, the highest is 17 meters, and the smallest is only a few centimeters. All kinds of statues are lifelike and elegant.
200 1, Yungang grottoes are listed as world cultural heritage. Among them, the Tan Yao Grottoes with strict and unified layout is the classic masterpiece of China's Buddhist art at its first peak. Wuhua Cave is exquisitely carved and colorful, which is a valuable material for studying the history, art, music, dance, calligraphy and architecture of the Northern Wei Dynasty.
Introduction to geology and geomorphology of Yungang Grottoes;
Located in the western margin of Jurassic sedimentary basin in Datong. The grottoes are located in the rolling hills with an altitude of1133 ~1178m. The maximum height difference between the sandstone lens in the grottoes and Shili River is about 30 meters. Geomorphological types can be divided into two major geomorphic units: the plateau at the top of Yungang Grottoes, the eroded low mountains and the eroded terrace in He Shili Valley.
Among them, the latter can be divided into river alluvium, modern river alluvium and eluvial alluvium according to their causes. Alluvial deposits are mainly distributed on the plateau of the ancient river channel in the north of Yungang Grottoes, belonging to the alluvial deposits on the edge of the ancient river channel and the alluvial deposits of the ancient river bed facies. Modern river alluvial and diluvial deposits are mainly distributed in the first terrace south of Yungang Grottoes and north of Shili River. ?
The purpose of building large-scale cave temples is to recruit disciples, practice Zen and promote Buddhism. Meditation needs a quiet environment, and the elegant environment of Wuzhou Mountain is more suitable for meditation. At that time, Wuzhou Mountain was regarded as a sacred mountain and a Lingshan. The top of the mountain is flat, the river under the mountain is continuous, the opposite view is wide, and the mountain is easy to cut the wall, which meets the basic conditions for the royal family to cut stones and open holes.
After the rise of Buddhism in ancient India, Buddhist believers and monks used grottoes as places to worship Buddha and practice. Because carving caves and Buddha statues on the mountain is more durable than building temples with bricks and stones.
The above contents refer to Baidu Encyclopedia-Yungang Grottoes.