Wanfo Temple Caves in Yixian, Jinzhou

The Wanfo Temple Caves are located on the north bank of the Daling River, about 9 km northwest of the city of Yixian, Liaoning Province. They are the earliest and largest group of caves in Northeast China. Construction began in 499 AD, during the 23rd year of the Taihe era of the Northern Wei Dynasty. The caves were built by Yuan Jing, the then governor of Yingzhou, to pray for the royal family. The construction was supervised by Dharma Master Tan Yao. There are more than 20 caves (niches) and 430 statues in the two areas, showcasing the artistic styles and historical changes from the Northern Wei Dynasty to the Ming Dynasty. Overview of the West Area The West Area is the main part of the Wanfo Temple Caves, consisting of 9 caves divided into two levels. Cave 1 is the largest, and the statues of Buddha and the donors on the central pillar are precious relics from the Northern Wei Dynasty. Cave 6 features a statue of Maitreya with crossed legs, standing 3.5 meters tall, showcasing the typical style of Northern Wei statues. The West Area also includes the Yuan Jing statue inscription, which is of great calligraphic value and is considered to be "the best of the Yuan Wei inscriptions." Overview of the East Area The East Area consists of 7 caves, which were mainly excavated by private individuals during the 3rd year of the Jingming era of the Northern Wei Dynasty, when Yuan Jing, the then governor of Yingzhou, sent an envoy to Khitans. Although the statue inscription of Han Zhen on the south wall of Cave 4 is badly damaged, it is of great historical value and is an important physical evidence for studying the history of northern ethnic groups and border regions.