Chinese Yungang Grottoes

Chinese Yungang Grottoes

Yungang Grottoes is located to the south of Wuzhoushan, 16 kilometers west of Datong, Sanxi, which is in the north of China. It has a history more than 1500 years which was built in 460 AD. The whole grottoes are divided into eastern, central , and western three parts, the shrines in the grottoes are scattered like beehives, the small ,middle and big grottoes are embedded sparsely and intensively onto the middle-waist of Yungang. The eastern grottoes are mainly pagodas, so it is called “pagoda caves”, the central grottoes are divided into front and back rooms, the main Buddha is in the middle, the walls and the roof are covered with sculpture. The western grottoes are mainly middle and small grottoes, the mended small shrines are the most which were built in late ages which are mainly works after North Wei dynasty migrated its capital to Luoyang. The whole grottoes are magnificent ,solemn, carved exquisitely, with outstanding theme. The religious figures carved are with total different expressions. On the carving technique, inherited and developed excellent traditions of Qin and Han dynasty of our country and absorbed the good element of Gandhara art to create the unique art style of Yungang. Yungang were carved on the mountain which Stretch for about one kilometers, with total 53 small and big grottoes,51000 Buddha sculptures, which is one of the biggest grottoes in China.In December ,2001, Yungang Grottoes are listed into World Heritage Directory.