It
is also called caves of thousands of
Buddhas. It is one of the treasure houses
of Buddhist grottoes art in China. The
caves were built on bank cliffs at two
sides of the Yulin River valley. There
are now 42 caves in existence, 31 on
the east bank and 11 on the west bank.
Clear water runs through between banks
where thick woods of elms grow, hence
the name of Yulin Grottoes (Elm Grottoes)
was called. In the grottoes preserved
are statues of nearly a thousand ones
and frescoes of more than a thousand
square meters. The first group of caves
were built in the Northern Wei Dynasty
and in the following dynasties more
caves were built or restored. The forms
of caves and contents of paintings showed
close connection with those in Mogao
grottoes. They are important component
parts of Dunhuang Art,and have great
historical and art value.
During the reign of Jiaqing in Qing
Dynasty a ivory sculpture of Buddha
was found in a cave. It had been a treasure
handed down from generation to generation,
and was presented to the state by the
latest abbot. The appearance of the
sculpture shows a Buddha riding on a
elephant. The whole statue is 15.9cm
in height, 11.4cm in length and 3.5cm
breadth. It is divided into two halves.
On the inner face of each half carved
are Jataka narratives which tell of
the good deeds performed by Sakyamuni.
All together there are 279 figures and
12 horse-drawn carriages. They all have
vivid gestures, but not alike. According
to the art style, it should be a art
treasure made in India about one thousand
years ago, and brought to China by monks
in Tang Dynasty. The original article
is now preserved in the Palace Museum
in Beijing , and there is a reproduction
on display in Anxi county museum.
Caves NO.25, NO.3 and NO.29 are representative
works in Yulin grottoes. Frescoes well
preserved in the three caves are masterpieces
which reflect outstanding level of wall
paintings
It
is also called caves of thousands of
Buddhas. It is one of the treasure houses
of Buddhist grottoes art in China. The
caves were built on bank cliffs at two
sides of the Yulin River valley. There
are now 42 caves in existence, 31 on
the east bank and 11 on the west bank.
Clear water runs through between banks
where thick woods of elms grow, hence
the name of Yulin Grottoes (Elm Grottoes)
was called. In the grottoes preserved
are statues of nearly a thousand ones
and frescoes of more than a thousand
square meters. The first group of caves
were built in the Northern Wei Dynasty
and in the following dynasties more
caves were built or restored. The forms
of caves and contents of paintings showed
close connection with those in Mogao
grottoes. They are important component
parts of Dunhuang Art,and have great
historical and art value.
