Posted ByChina7dayThis school organized an activity to take us to Luoyang for investigation. With excitement, we went to Luoyang from Shangqiu Normal University. The main line of this investigation is Longmen Grottoes and museums.
First of all, under the guidance of the school, we went to one of the three famous caves in the country: Luoyang Longmen Grottoes. Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang is known as the peak of Chinese Buddhist stone carving art. Longmen Grottoes were built in Luoyang, the capital of Xiaowen emperor in the Northern Wei Dynasty. It has been built in the Eastern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Qi, Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties, song and other dynasties for more than 400 years. It is a kilometer long from the north to the south. There are 2345 grottoes, more than 100000 statues and more than 2800 inscriptions. It has made great contributions to the innovation and development of Chinese Grottoes art.
The first one is cave 20: Qianxi temple
Qianxi Temple: chiseled in the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang Dynasty (650-683). This Amitabha Buddha, with his robes and robes, has a quiet and self-contained posture. He has a quiet expression on GuanShiYin and Bodhisattva. The three images are collectively called the “three saints of the west”.
The second one is Chen Tuan’s cross rolling stele
Chen Tuan, a recluse from the late Tang Dynasty to the early Northern Song Dynasty, is a famous legendary figure in the history of Taoism in China. He once lived in seclusion in Wudang Mountain and Huashan Mountain. Emperor Taizong of the Northern Song Dynasty was given the title “Mr. Xiyi”. There is a picture of Longmen Mountain on the upper stele of the main wall of the cave, including mountains, temples, rivers, caves and Mang Mountain in the north of Luoyang, the ancient capital. The “cross roll stele” in the lower part of the cave reflects his calligraphy’s magnificent and unrestrained characteristics and his free and easy personality.
The third one is cave 104: Binyang North cave
Binyang North Cave: it was first chiseled in the Northern Wei Dynasty and completed in the Gaozong period of the Tang Dynasty (650-683). The main Buddha is Amitabha Buddha. The fire pattern is complex and vivid. The “dragon head” plinth on the south side of the cave is a work of the Northern Wei Dynasty.
The fourth one is cave 140: Binyang center cave
Binyang middle Cave: it was built in the Northern Wei Dynasty (500-523), with Sakyamuni Buddha, his second disciple and second Bodhisattva on the main wall, two Bodhisattvas on the north and south walls, the third Buddha theme and lotus treasure pool on the ground. Lotus caisson at the top of the cave, eight bodies flying in the sky. The front wall is engraved with Buddha stories and pictures of emperors and empresses worshiping Buddha.
The fifth is cave 159: Binyang South cave
Binyang South Cave: it was excavated in the Northern Wei Dynasty. The five main statues on the main wall were completed in the 15th year of Zhenguan, Tang Dynasty. It was made by Li Tai, king of Wei Dynasty, to pray for his mother and empress. Lord Buddha, Amitabha, has a plump face and smooth clothes.
The sixth one is Luoyang Peony stone
Luoyang Peony stone: Luoyang Peony stone, also known as peony jade. The dark green stone is inlaid with a natural peony flower pattern, which is mainly white and blue. Its flower shape is lifelike, the flower posture is various, the pattern is clear, elegant, has the very high ornamental value.
The seventh is Huijian cave
Huijian Cave: Huijian cave is located in the middle section of the western mountain of Longmen. It is a virtue cave built by the monk Huijian of Fahai Temple in Xijing (Chang’an) for the royal family members such as Emperor Gaozong of Tang Dynasty and Empress Wu. Because the main Buddha in the cave and Ananda, the disciple on the right, look like the statues of the main Buddha and the disciple in Longmen Lushena statue shrine, also known as the “small Lushena statue niche”.
After visiting the Longmen Grottoes, we visited the nearby Xiangshan temple and Baiyuan together with our leader. That’s the end of the day. The teacher led us into the hotel and gave out our rooms. We are looking forward to the next day’s visit to the museum.