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Longmen Grottoes

Longmen Grottoes

Write: Ronny [2011-05-23]

Longmen Grottoes were built around 493 A.D., about the time when Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei Dynasty moved the country's capital to Luoyang. Construction continued through several dynasties: Western Wei, Eastern Wei, Northern Qi, Sui, Tang and the period of Five Dynasties and Ten States. Within the 1000 meters long scenic area, there are over 100,000 statues in more than 2000 caves made over a period of over five centuries. Thousands of these sculptures and caves, preserved in the Yi and Que Mountains, were built at the height of construction during Northern Wei Dynasty and Tang Dynasty.
The Longmen Grottoes are located in the south of Luoyang City. They are between Mount Xiang and Mount Longmen and face Yi River. Longmen Grottoes, Yungang Caves and Mogao Caves are regarded as the three most famous treasure houses of stone inscriptions in China.
Guyang Cave, Mid-Binyang Cave, Lianhua Cave and Shikong Temple are representative of the caves and temples built during Northern Wei Dynasty. Guyang Cave contains a series of sculptures of some royal family members and ministers of the royal court after the capital had been moved to Luoyang. The sculptures in this cave demonstrated how dominant Buddhism was at that time. They are examples of the earliest Gandhara style grotto art in Luoyang: a fusion of traditional Chinese and foreign cultures.
Fengxian Temple
Fengxian Temple was built The statue of Vairocana Buddha, Fengxian Temple, Longmen Grottoesin the Tang Dynasty and it is the largest grotto in Longmen Temple with a width of 36 metres (about 118 feet) and a length of 41 metres (about 136 feet). There are nine major figures of various facial appearances and temperaments in the temple that were built in accordance with the Buddhist rite and their relationships by the artists.
The most impressive figure is the statue of Vairocana Buddha sitting cross-legged on the eight-square lotus throne. It is 17.14 metres (about 56.23 feet) in total height with the head four metres (about 13 feet) in height and the ears 1.9 metres (about 6.2 feet) in length. Vairocana means illuminating all things in the sutra. The Buddha has a well-filled figure, a sacred and kindly expression and an elegant smile. According to the record on the epigraph, the Empress Wu Zetian together with her subjects took part in the ceremony of Introducing the Light (a Buddhist blessing that the Buddha opens the spiritual light of himself and shares it with others).
At the sides of Vairocana there are two statues of Vairocana Buddha's disciples, Kasyapa and Ananda, wearing prudent and devout expressions. The figures of Bodhisattvas and devas can also be found in the temple. Some have dignified and genial expressions, while others are majestic and fiery. The various appearances and delicate designs are the representations of Empire Tang's powerful material and spiritual strength as well as the high crystallization of people's wisdoms.
Xiangshan Temple
Xiangshan Temple is hidden amidst the verdant foliages of pines and cypresses half way up the east side of Longmen Mountain. The construction of this temple began in the first year of Xiping Period in Northern Wei Dynasty (A.D.516). Its renovation was ordered by Empress Wu Zetian in the first year of Tianshou Period of Tang Dynasty (A.D. 690). Seven stone statues of Buddha reside in the "temple with eight corners". In the sixth year of Taihe Period of Emperor Wenzong of Tang Dynasty (A.D. 832), one of its most accomplished poets, Bai Juyi, donated his earnings from writing the epitaph of Yuan Zheng (another famous writer in Tang Dynasty who was Bai's close friend) to the renovation of Xiangshan Temple. He also wrote an article titled On the Renovation of Xiangshan Temple. This further enhanced the importance of Longmen Mountain and Xiangshan Temple. Later he compiled his poems (more than 800) written during his 12 years' stay in Luoyang into a ten volume anthology with the title of Baishi Luozhong Ji, which literarily means "the anthology of Bai Juyi's poems written in Luoyang", and had it preserved in Xiangshan Temple. He spent many years here and called himself the "Retired Scholar of Xiangshan". Bai Juyi, together with eight of his contemporaries, Hu Guo, Jie Jiao, Zhen Ju, Liu Zhen, Lu Fu, Zhang Hun, Li Yuanshuang, Sen Ruman called themselves the "Nine Patriarchs of Xiangshan".
Bai Yuan
Bai Yuan is a park built at the base of the graveyard of the great poet Bai Juyi of Tang Dynasty. It lies atop the Peak of Pipa on the east side of Longmen Mountain. Covering 44 mu, it is divided into four parts: the Qinggu Section, the Graveyard Section, the Poetry Porch Section and the Administrative Section. Within the Qinggu Section, pathways are flanked by bamboos and waterfalls, with glimpses of many Tang style pavilions such as Letian Hall, Tingyi Pavilion and Songgang Pavilion along the way. In Letian Hall, there is a statue of Bai Juyi and inscriptions tracing his family tree. In the Graveyard Section, there is a semi-circular tomb, a tomb tablet, a flat tombstone made from a large rock, black-topped tomb gate and a flight of steps to the tomb. The area is surrounded by cypresses and peonies. On the tombstone is China's largest stone book: the biography of Mr. Zuiyin (Bai Juyi). To the north of the Graveyard Section is the Poetry Porch Section, within which are the Daoshi Study and CuiYue Pavilion. Here, stone scriptures, paintings and calligraphies of the poems of Bai Juyi done by contemporary artists are displayed; as well as various books about his life and books that he wrote. Surrounded by rivers and mountains, Bai Yuan is one of the most famous scenic attractions in Luoyang.
Twenty Products of Longmen
The Twenty Products of Longmen refer to the twenty inscriptions that recorded the statue-making process in Longmen Grottoes. Of the twenty inscriptions, nineteen are in Guyang Cave and one is in Cixiang Cave. These inscriptions also expressed the statue doners' wish to avoid disasters and their prayers for good luck and happiness. The calligraphy combined the strong points of the Li style of Han Dynasty and the Li style of Jin Dynasty.
Opening Time:
08:00-18:30
How to get there:
Special bus lines for tourists like No.81, No. 53, No. 60 can take you from Luoyang Railway Station within 40 minutes.