Description of the attraction
Longmen Grottoes are one of the three most prominent cave structures in China, including the Yungang and Mogao caves. The grottoes stretch for 1 km along the Yi River on both sides. On the east bank, there are a large number of small caves that have served as residences for numerous groups of monks.
Longmen Grottoes have approximately 1,400 caves and contain 100,000 statues of various sizes, from 25 mm high to the largest Buddha statue, which is 17 meters high. There are also about 2,500 steles and 60 pagodas here. Fifty large medium-sized caves are located on the western slopes, which are dated to an earlier period than the caves on the eastern slope.
The abundance of caves and sculptures on the slopes allows one to catch certain changes in style associated with the time of their creation. On the western slopes, carved figures of statues of Buddha and religious people abound, while on the eastern ones, figures are already more intricate, including images of women, as well as ships. The caves are numbered sequentially from north to south along the western bank of the Yee River.
The largest grottoes with famous sculptures and inscriptions: Guang-dong, in which work began in 493, Binyang-dong - 505, Lianhua-dong - 520, Shiku-si - 520, Shisku - 520, Yaofang-dong - 570, Zaifu-dong - 636, Fahya-dong - 650, etc.
Guangdong, or Old Sun Cave, is the oldest Lun Cave with North Wei-style carvings. It is also the longest of the caves located in the central part of the western slope. The cave was hewn out by order of Emperor Xiao Wen. The earliest limestone carvings in this cave now date back to 478, when Emperor Xiao Wei moved his capital from Datong to Luoyang. 600 of the finest Northern Wei style calligraphy can be found here.
There are 3 very large images in the cave. This is the central image of Sakyamuni Buddha with Bodhisattvas on either side. The northern style of Wei is very indicative, in which these images are made - the thin and emaciated bodies of the saints. Also in the cave, there are approximately 800 graffiti carved on walls and niches, which is a record number in China. Along the cave, there are two rows of niches, on the north and south sides, which contain a large number of drawings signed by artists.
Over the course of 4 centuries, artisans carved more and more sculptures and reliefs in the Longmen grottoes. Alas, during the years of persecution of Buddhists in the IX century. the history of the destruction of the monastery also began. Then the erosion of soft stone, and the plundering raids of Western collectors, and the vandalism of the hungweipings during the years of the "Cultural Revolution" said their destructive word.
Longmen Grottoes are a testament to the creativity of Buddhist art. More than 2,100 icon cases, 43 pagodas, more than 100 thousand images of saints, 3,600 stone inscriptions have been preserved in them to this day.
