On the road | Shanxi trip-Yungang Grottoes
The first impression that the "grotto" gave me was "mystery". This is a temple building carved into the mountain, with endless stories hidden inside. The famous grottoes in China include Dunhuang Grottoes, Yungang Grottoes, Longmen Grottoes, etc. On this trip to Shanxi, a glimpse of the "Yungang Grottoes" satisfied my little knowledge of the grottoes and opened up the mystery of the grottoes.
On the morning of April 30, it was another sunny day. We had stopped at the entrance of Yungang Grottoes, looking forward to seeing the beauty of Yungang.
? After approaching the entrance, you are faced with the solemn Buddha-worshiping Avenue. On both sides stand stone sculptures with elephants as bases, and Buddha statues are carved on them. The feeling of a Buddhist holy land is vivid.
Looking all the way, I feel that the scenery here is beautiful and the fragrance is very prosperous. It is a Feng Shui treasure place.
The Yungang Grottoes are a world-famous treasure house of Buddhist art. They are located about 16 kilometers west of Datong City, the ancient capital outside the Great Wall and the hometown of the Coal Sea. It is a large-scale grotto excavated in the early Northern Wei Dynasty, about 460 AD. During the period of Emperor Wencheng of the Northern Wei Dynasty, it has a history of 1540 years. Together with the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Gansu Province and the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, it is known as the three major grottoes in China. The Yungang Grottoes were excavated 94 years later than the Dunhuang Grottoes and 35 years earlier than the Longmen Grottoes. It is famous all over the world for its large scale of buildings, tall statues and complete preservation. It is well-known at home and abroad because of its extremely high value for the study of ancient Chinese history, Buddhist history and art history.
Look! Many caves arranged like a honeycomb are the Yungang Grottoes. The grottoes were excavated on the cliff of Wuzhou Mountain. The highest point of Wuzhou Mountain is called Yungang, hence the name Yungang Grottoes. Its original name was Lingyan Temple, also known as Shifo Temple.
Why were the Yungang Grottoes excavated in Wuzhou Mountain? This is closely related to Wuzhou Mountain, a geomantic treasure land. Wuzhou Mountain faces south, and Wuzhou River has beautiful mountains and clear waters. It can be said to be a good place to "hide the wind and get the water". Wuzhou Mountain, also known as Wuzhou Fortress, has to pass through from Shengle, the old capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty (northwest of Helinger in Inner Mongolia) to Pingcheng (Datong City), the new capital. Wuzhou Mountain is located between the inner and outer Great Walls. It was the choke point leading to the north in the Northern Wei Dynasty. At that time, there were frequent traffic of people and caravans, and important troops were stationed. The emperor often discussed national affairs here. Wuzhou Mountain became the "sacred mountain" where the emperors of the Northern Wei Dynasty prayed for blessings. They worshiped the north here and prayed to the gods to bless the country and the country. Therefore, it is reasonable for the emperor of the Northern Wei Dynasty to dig grottoes and build temples in the "Sacred Mountain".
The Yungang Grottoes are dug into the mountains and stretch for 1 kilometer from east to west. There are 45 main caves in existence, which are divided into three areas: east, middle and west. There are 4 caves in the east, 9 caves in the middle and 32 caves in the west. There are also many small caves. There are more than 1,100 niches and more than 51,000 large and small statues. About 3 kilometers west from Yungang Grottoes, there is Wu Guancang Grottoes in the north of Wuzhou Sichuan. Further west along the river, there is the Jiaoshan Grottoes in Gaoshan Town, 15 kilometers away from Yungang. If you want to take a closer look at so many caves, you may not be able to see them all in a week. There are currently more than 40 caves open, and it will take 2 days to look carefully.
? Look at the color of the stone wall, red and yellow, which is very eye-catching.
? Look carefully, there is a dove squatting on the middle finger of this giant Buddha. It is very strange. Could it be a messenger descending to the mortal world?
The so-called "grottoes" are caves dug on the cliffs. It is warm in winter and cool in summer, quiet and mysterious. After the rise of Buddhism in ancient India, Buddhist believers and monks used caves as a place to worship Buddha and practice practice. Because grottoes and Buddha statues carved into mountains are more durable than temples built with bricks and stones. Buddhism was introduced to China through the famous Silk Road in the Han Dynasty, and was the descendant of the art of cave temples, around the 3rd century. The Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves at the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, my country, are the earliest grottoes. Along the Silk Road eastward there is the Pazilik Thousand Buddha Caves. Entering the Hexi Corridor are the famous Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, Anxi Yulin Grottoes, and Tianshui Grottoes. Maijishan Grottoes, and continuing eastward from Gansu are Ningxia Xumishan Grottoes, Datong Yungang Grottoes, Luoyang Longmen Grottoes, etc.
The formation rock of Wuzhou Mountain belongs to the Zhuluo Period feldspathic quartz sandstone. The stone is hard and has a tight structure, which is conducive to the carving of grottoes and statues.
?
The most classic ones in Yungang Grottoes are Cave 5 and Cave 6. Cave 5 is divided into two chambers, front and back, and the cave is in the shape of an oval thatched cottage. The layout of the Buddha statues in the back room is for the third generation of Buddhas. The Sakyamuni Buddha in the middle is a seated statue in lotus position. It is 17 meters high and is the largest Buddha statue in Yungang Grottoes. The legs of the Buddha are 15.5 meters long and can accommodate 120 people on the lap. 12 people can stand on one foot. Buddha Ying has a blue bun on his head, clear facial contours, white spots of vermilion, thin eyebrows and long eyes, a straight nose, ears hanging down from the shoulders, wearing a robe with a belt and a shoulder-length robe, giving a dignified, solemn and solemn look. A feeling of kindness. On the right side of the main Buddha is the future Maitreya Buddha, and on the left is the past life Buddha Kassapa. Opposite the main Buddha are eight Buddhist statues with a height of about 1 meter on two floors, making the main Buddha even taller and more majestic. On the east side of the arch is a statue of a Bodhi tree and two Buddhas sitting opposite each other under the tree, which is a common theme in the grottoes of the Northern Wei Dynasty. There is a long and narrow tunnel behind the Grotto Buddha, which is a chanting path for Buddhist believers to worship and circumambulate.
Cave 6 is the most exquisite cave in the Yungang Grottoes and is called the "First Great Cave". The plane of Cave 6 is square, with the central tower in the back room. The tower is 15 meters high and divided into two floors. The Buddha statues on the four walls and pillars are made of high relief similar to round sculptures, giving the Buddha statues a strong three-dimensional effect. The standing Buddha on the upper level of the square tower pillars is a very high-level carving method. This kind of standing Buddha is called "Jieyin Buddha". Looking around, I found that the entire cave was so richly decorated that there was almost no space without sculptures. There were Buddha statues, Bodhisattvas, Arhats, Feitian, donors, auspicious birds, mythical beasts, flowers, etc. It was really a bustling, crowded and dazzling Buddhist world. . What has more Buddhist and artistic appeal in Cave 6 is the story of Sakyamuni Buddha on the waist of the central tower pillar and on the four walls. The artist used a combination of low-relief and high-relief techniques, in the form of continuous arrangement, using close-up The 40 carvings show the Buddhist story of Sakyamuni from before and after his birth to his subjugation of demons and enlightenment, and his first transformation into human beings.
? Walking in the grotto, listening to Buddhist songs, I feel that I have an otherworldly and ecstatic feeling. Such a grotto does have a rich depth of field for different It is not a bad idea for tourists to absorb, explore culture, explore history, learn art, and listen to stories. Such great art not only presents its own one-sided life. They exist for the viewer, they look forward to the people looking up. A glimpse of the art of the grotto, plus the sighs and sighs in front of the grotto, are the three-dimensional life of this grotto. We are watching the grottoes, and we are also watching ourselves.
Teacher Yu Qiuyu described the grottoes in this way during the cultural journey:
It is a kind of gathering and an inspiration. It puts the myth of human nature into shape, and uses shape to inspire human nature. Therefore, it becomes a colorful dream, a kind of holy precipitation, and an eternal yearning in the heart of the nation.
? It is A kind of carnival, a kind of release. In its embrace, gods and humans blend together, and time and space soar. Therefore, it allows people to walk into myths, fables, and the neon light of cosmic consciousness. Here, carnival is the natural order and release It is a gifted personality, and the paradise of art is the palace of freedom.
It is a ritual, a religion that transcends religion. The principles of Buddhism have been distilled by the flame of beauty, leaving behind the mystery, purity and sublimity that the ritual should have. Anyone who knows and hears it will devote their lives to this ritual and accept its baptism and edification.
? It is perfect to end with such words! Yungang Grottoes, such a rich cultural delicacy, is worth savoring...
? To commemorate the visit to Yungang Grottoes on April 30, 2017