Longmen Grottoes is located on both banks of the Yi River, 13 kilometers south of Luoyang City. Longmen Grottoes, together with Yungang Grottoes and Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, is known as one of three famous Grottoes in China. It was promulgated a key national cultural relic unit for special protection by the State Council in 1961. In 1982, it was promulgated one of the first group of scenic zones to be protected at the state level by the State Council. On November 30, 2000, the Longmen Grottoes were approved by the 24th UN Heritage Commission to be put on the List of World Cultural Heritage.
The origin of the name - Longmen
The grottoes got the name Longmen, which means "Dragon Gate," because the two mountains appear as a gate with the Yi River running through it, and when the Sui Dynasty emperor built his palace in Luoyang, it faced the mountain "gates."
The history
The grottos were hewed and carved during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386 - 534), when the rulers relocated their capital at Luoyang near the end of the 5th century. At that time Buddhism was spreading east into China and was venerated by the imperial court. The Buddhists adopted the practice of carving rock temples, dedicated to the Buddha. The construction continued through the successive six dynasties, including Tang and Song, for a span of over 400 years.
The scale
Altogether there are 1,352 caves, 785 niches, more than 97,000 statues of the Buddha, Bodhisativas, and Arhats, and 3,680 inscribed stone tablets along the 1-km-long cliff of Mt. Longmenshan on the west and Mt. Xiangshan on the east of the Yi Rive. One third of these cave sculptures belong to the Northern Wei Dynasty and two thirds to the Tang Dynasty.
What to appreciate
The grottoes and niches in the two hills are known at home and abroad for their large numbers, massive scales, variety of subjects, delicate carving and profound meaning. With their original imperial style and the style of central China, the grottoes created during the Northern Wei period and the Tang Dynasty reached the pinnacle of the development of stone carving at that time and differed from grottoes created earlier.
The style of sculpture, the design of clothing and the facial expression on statues, as well as carving methods show little foreign influence, rather they exhibit the pinnacle of development of Chinese grotto art. The 11 Buddha statues in the Binyang Cave, typical Northern Wei carvings, represent a style in transition from the simple and compact depictions in the Yungang Grottoes of Datong, Shanxi Province, to the vigorous and realistic Tang Dynasty sculptures.
Fengxian Temple
Fengxian Temple was built in the Tang Dynasty and it is the largest grotto in Longmen Temple with a width of 36 meters (about 118 feet) and a length of 41 meters (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 meters (about 56.23 feet) in total height with the head four meters (about 13 feet) in height and the ears 1.9 meters (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).
Ten Thousand Buddha Cave
Ten Thousand Buddha Cave, completed in 680, is a typical chronological cave of the Tang Dynasty of two rooms and square flat roofs. Its name is due to the 15,000 small statues of Buddha chiseled in the southern and northern walls of the cave. The main Buddha Amida sits on the lotus Sumeru throne, having a composed and solemn face. The wall behind Amida is carved with 54 lotuses upon which there are 54 Bodhisattvas in different shapes and with various expressions.
Vivid reliefs of singers and dancers
In addition, there are lifelike reliefs of pretty and charming singers and dancers on the wall. The singers are accompanied by various kinds of instruments and the dancers dance lightly and gracefully to the music. The whole model in the cave has created a lively and cheerful atmosphere.
Statue of Kwan-yin
On the southern wall outside the cave is carved a statue of Kwan-yin of 85 centimeters (about 33 inches) in height, holding a pure bottle in the left hand and deer's tails (as a symbol of brushing off the dust in spirit) in the right hand. This figure is well designed and is regarded as an example of Bodhisattva statues of Tang Dynasty in Longmen.
The surrounding scenery
The site boasts not only the grottoes, but also lush mountains and ridges with springs and waterfalls. Two mountains on the both sides of the Yi River are covered are covered with green pines and cypresses, towers and pavilions dot each mountain. A hot spring near the entrance of the west mountain grottoes is a constant 24 C.
The evaluation
The sculptures of the Longmen Grottoes are an outstanding manifestation of human artistic creativity. The Grottoes illustrate the perfection of a long-established art form which was to play a highly significant role in the cultural evolution of this region of Asia. The high cultural level and sophisticated society of Tang Dynasty China is encapsulated in the exceptional stone carvings of the Longmen Grottoes. The awesome Longmen Grottoes shows how marvelous a place can be made by pursuit of excellence and dedicated hard work.
When to explore
Spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit the Longmen Grottoes and Luoyang, this is when the weather is the best. Summers can be very hot and winters bitingly cold. The Luoyang Peony Festival begins from April 10 to 25, this is the best time to see the blooming peonies. There are many interesting activities during the festival.
- Opening Hours: 06:00a.m. - 18:00p.m.