Lanzhou
Binglingsi
|
| |
Binglingsi is located in smaller
Jishi Mountain,  35
kilometers south-west of Yongjing county in Gansu province.
"Bingling" means "thousand Buddhas"
or "ten-thousand Buddhas" in the Tibetan language.
The Grottoes carved into the cliffs of red sand-stones
at both ends of Dasigou (valley) was first constructed
in the Western Qin Dynasty, and continuously went on
expansion on a massive scale through the dynasties of
Northern and Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Shui, Tang,
Yuan, Ming, and Qing. The Grottoes consist of three
parts: Shangsi, Donggou, and Xiasi. Shangsi were ruined
by fire and what remained are only a few statues of
Buddhas. In Xiasi, there are 34 caves and 14 niches
still existing. They contain 694 stone statues, 82 clay
figures, 5 stone carvings and clay pagodas and 900 square
meters of murals. Binglingsi is one of the ten largest
Chinese grottoes.
Cave No.171 houses the largest Buddhist statue, 27 meters
high, with its upper body carved into the cliff and
lower body made of clay. The statue seated cross-legged
in meditation on a pedestal with the right hand resting
on the lap and the left hand on the abdomen was sculptured
in the 19th year of Dezong Reign of the Tang Dynasty
(803). Grotto No.169 is the tallest one carved within
a natural cave 8 meters deep, 26 meters wide and 18
meters high, the shape of which is similar to that of
the opposite mountain rang across the river. The walls
of the grotto are covered with niches, only 24 of which
still exist, enshrining 19 stone statues and 39 clay
figures. The grotto also houses the largest mural in
Binglingsi, which is still bright and beautiful in color.
|
|
