Among the numerous grotto scenic spots in Gansu, if Mogao Grottoes are famous for their painted murals and Maijishan Grottoes in Tianshui are famous for their clay sculpture art, the Bingling Temple Grottoes in Yongjing, Linxia are also surrounded by the earliest existing grottoes with definite dates in China and the Giant Buddha in Tang Dynasty.
So what is Bingling Temple Grottoes? Let's start with the history of this grotto. In the early years of the Western Jin Dynasty, caves were dug on the cliffs on the west side of Dasigou in the 3rd century, which is also the earliest record of caves dug in Bingling Temple Grottoes. In 420, in the first year of Jian Hong in Western Qin Dynasty, Bingling Temple Grottoes were formally established. This moment is well preserved in the ink of "The First Year of Jian Hong" (420) on the northern wall of Cave 169, which is the earliest cave-making inscription in China.
The picture above shows the scenic spot1Cave 69, Xiqin Feitian.
With this age, it can be shown that the inscription of Bingling Temple Grottoes is earlier than the earliest known inscription of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes 100 years, and on the other hand, it also shows that the earliest grottoes in Gansu are much earlier than Yungang and Longmen.
After the expansion in Northern Wei, Northern Zhou, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, a large-scale cave group was formed. After 1600 years, there are still 183 caves, 694 Buddha statues and 900 square meters murals, which truly conform to the magnificent scene of "100,000 Maitreya Buddha continent" in Tibetan "Ling Bing".
The picture above shows Liujiaxia Reservoir Wharf.
In May 2020, take a shuttle bus from Lanzhou to Liujiaxia Reservoir, and then transfer to a speedboat in the scenic spot. It took about 1.5 hours, and finally arrived at this anticipated Bingling Temple grottoes scenic spot.
Next, Ma will stop and recommend several groups of caves in Bingling Temple according to the time line.
The picture above shows the West Qin narrative in Cave 169, a scenic spot.
Xiqin Grottoes are the earliest grottoes in Bingling Temple Grottoes Scenic Area, with a history of 1600 years. Most of the statues in these grottoes are made of clay with wooden tires and stone tires, and they have a steady and powerful Gandhara style and a Greco-Roman Gandhara style. At first glance, they are very different and somewhat exotic.
The above picture shows the lotus Buddha statue held by Xiqin in Cave 169 in the scenic spot.
Where to go: 169, 192 and 195 caves in Bingling Temple Scenic Area are grottoes at this time, but 169 cave is a special cave in Bingling Temple, so you need to buy a ticket separately, but it is too precious to be worth it.
The picture above shows the Western Qin Buddha statue in Cave 169, a scenic spot.
Cave 169 is the largest existing cave in Bingling Temple, with the earliest age and the richest content, and it is also the earliest cave niche known in China. In addition to the inscriptions, the patron's murals, flying murals, and statues in the style of Gandhara in the Western Regions are all features.
The above picture shows Nirvana in Northern Wei Dynasty in Cave 16.
Let's take a look at the grottoes in the Northern Wei Dynasty. Although Longmen and Yungang are the richest grottoes in China, many grottoes excavated in the Northern Wei Dynasty can also be seen in the Bingling Temple Grottoes Scenic Area. The statues in these grottoes can also let you appreciate the changing process of the statues in the Northern Wei Dynasty, from the early Gandhara style to the middle-term bone-showing and clear-cut style, and then to the Central Plains sculpture style after localization.
The above picture shows the Buddha statue in Cave 125.
Where to look: The caves excavated in Bingling Temple Scenic Area during the Northern Wei Dynasty, focusing on caves 126, 128 and 132. The most distinctive cave is Cave 126, which was excavated in the late Northern Wei Dynasty and has the characteristics of Central Plains sculpture "showing bones, clearing images and praising clothes".
The picture above shows the Buddha statue of the Northern Zhou Dynasty in the sixth cave of the scenic spot.
Continuing to the grottoes excavated in the Northern Zhou Dynasty, it can be said that the sculpture characteristics of this period have gradually changed from the Northern Wei Dynasty to the low and flat style of meat buns, which played a connecting role for the exquisite and complete sculpture in the Sui and Tang Dynasties.
Where to go: The caves excavated in Bingling Temple Scenic Area in the Northern Zhou Dynasty, with emphasis on caves No.6 and No.82.
Time mentioned the Sui and Tang Dynasties, and the statues of this period are believed to be familiar to everyone. Their bodies are vigorous and full, and their faces are plump and beautiful, showing a warm, round, vivid and soft style. In other words, the plump place is plump and the thin place is just right.
The most classic statue of Bingling Temple Grottoes in Sui and Tang Dynasties is the iconic 17 1 niche in the scenic spot, which was unearthed in Kaiyuan 19 in Tang Dynasty, more than 200 years ago.
The picture above shows the Great Buddha of the Tang Dynasty.
The giant Buddha in the Tang Dynasty is 27 meters high, with stone carvings on the top and clay sculptures on the bottom. It has become the ninth largest Buddha in the world and the fifth largest Buddha in China. Rarely, after the restoration of modern craftsmen, the Buddha statues in the whole Tang Dynasty lost some simplicity and vicissitudes, and the aesthetic feeling of the Buddha statues was much less.
However, through the giant Buddha in the Tang Dynasty, we can know that the Silk Road reached its peak in the Tang Dynasty, and at the same time, the ancient Tang Dynasty became better and better. Bingling Temple is located at the intersection of two important passages, which plays a very good role in transferring and opening holes for blessing, so the number of grottoes in Tang Dynasty is also the largest among Bingling Temple grottoes.
After seeing the grottoes in the Tang Dynasty, we have almost seen the highlights of the Bingling Temple grottoes, but the grottoes in the Yuan Dynasty are also worth seeing, especially because of the prosperity of Tibetan Buddhism in Bingling Temple in the Yuan Dynasty, so we can see many elements with tantric characteristics in the grottoes in this period, such as the wooden clay sculptures of the 70 caves of Guanyin with eight arms and eleven sides and the murals on the niche walls.
After spending 2-3 hours visiting Bingling Temple Grottoes, you will be as impressed as I am with this grotto with few tourists. It not only has the beautiful natural customs of the Stone Forest and the Yellow River, but also allows you to appreciate the flying shape in Liangzhou mode, the only reclining Buddha in the Northern Wei Dynasty and the humanistic customs in the evolution of statues. (Author: non-stop, life lies in walking, the journey needs to be recorded! )