Yungang Grottoes

🛕 Yungang Grottoes Originally known as Lingyan Temple and Shifo Temple, the Yungang Grottoes were first built in 460 AD. Located on the southern slope of Wuzhou Mountain, 17 km west of Datong City, Shanxi Province, the grottoes were carved into the mountain and stretch for about 1 km from east to west. They are magnificent and rich in content. There are 45 main caves, 252 small caves and niches, and more than 51,000 statues, representing the outstanding Buddhist cave art of China in the 5th and 6th centuries AD. It is one of the three most famous grottoes in China. 🛕 Historical Background The Yungang Grottoes were the first grottoes in China to be excavated at the behest and authorization of the royal family. In the third year of the reign of Emperor Huangshi of the Northern Wei Dynasty (398 AD), Emperor Tuoba Gui of the Northern Wei Dynasty moved the capital from Shengle to Pingcheng (now Datong City), and Wuzhou Mountain became a major transportation hub between Shengle and Pingcheng. After Emperor Wencheng ascended the throne, he ordered the monk Tan Yao to preside over the restoration of the Buddhist law. With the support of Emperor Wencheng, Tan Yao chose the beautiful Wuzhou Mountain to "carve the mountain stone wall, open five caves, and build a Buddha statue in each cave, the tallest of which is 70 feet high, followed by 60 feet, with magnificent carvings, the best in the world." These are the "Five Caves of Tan Yao" as they are known to later generations. 🛕 Artistic Achievements The early "Five Caves of Tan Yao" are magnificent, with a thick and simple Western style. They are famous for their luxurious decoration, showing the complex, varied, and magnificent artistic style of the Northern Wei period. In the center of the five caves are huge statues of the Buddha, representing the five emperors of the Northern Wei Dynasty. In the middle period, Chinese palace-style carvings began to appear in the caves, as well as Chinese-style Buddha statues and niches developed on this basis, representing the beginning of the "Sinicization" of cave art. These were widely used in the construction of cave temples in later generations. Although the late caves are small in scale, the statues are unique in style, with a slender and beautiful appearance and moderate proportions, making them the pioneers of northern Chinese cave art and the origin of the "slender and clear statues." 🛕 Scenic Area Honors On March 4, 1961, the Yungang Grottoes were selected as one of the first national key cultural relics protection units. In 2001, the Yungang Grottoes were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In May 2024, the Yungang Grottoes, which have been on the 5A Scenic Area Brand List for many years, moved up in the rankings again, reaching sixth place in the country, with their popularity and influence continuing to expand.