Early Buddhist SculptureEarly Buddhist Sculpture

The Caves of YungangThe Caves of Yungang

• Located in the Shanxi Province of China

• Represent early Buddhist art in China.

• Carved 1500 years ago

http://www.hillmanwonders.com/china/yungang.htm

http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/43602.htm

Who built the caves?Who built the caves?

• Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534)

• Under Guidance of monk Tan Yao

• 453-493

http://www.paulnoll.com/China/Dynasty/dynasty-Three-Kingdoms.html

The Caves of YungangThe Caves of Yungang

• Yungang consists of:

– 53 caves– And over 51,000

carvings depicting Buddha and his life

http://www.china.org.cn/english/kuaixun/75235.htm

Group #1Group #1

• Caves #1-4

• Cave #3• http://www.travelchinaguide.com/

picture/shanxi/datong/yungang_grottoes/0023394.htm

Group #2Group #2

•Caves #5-13

• Links• Cave#5

– http://www.chinavr.net/shanxi/datong/ygsk_e.htm

Picture:http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/datong/YUNGANG11.htmcave 13

Yungang CavesYungang CavesEntrance to Cave 7 Entrance to Cave 7

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/picture/shanxi/datong/yungang_grottoes/0023428.htm

Group #3Group #3

• Caves #14-53• Caves numbering 16 to Cave 20 are the

oldest in this complexes and each one symbolizes an emperor from the Northern Wei Dynasty

• Emperor is the Buddha• Caves #21 and up were built later on and

not as impressive.

Cave #20 Cave #20 ((Sakyamuni)Sakyamuni)

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/picture/shanxi/datong/yungang_grottoes/0023537.htm

Longmen CavesLongmen Caves

• 100,000 images of Buddha

• 2345 caves

• Created during the Northern Wei and

Tang dynasties

http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?method=4&dsname=Wikipedia+Images&dekey=Longmen-grottoes-longmen-mountain-from-a-distance.jpg&gwp=8

Where are they?Where are they?

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/henan/ http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/henan/luoyang/

Why were they Created?Why were they Created?

• The northern Wei Dynasty changed capitals from Datong to Luoyang.

• The Buddhists needed a closer place to worship.

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/henan/luoyang/longmen.htm

Fengxian TempleFengxian Temple

• The core of the longmen caves

• 672-675• Also called the

“eastern Mona Lisa” or the “Mother of China”

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/picture/henan/luoyang/longmen_grottoes/0005711.htm

Middle Binyang CaveMiddle Binyang Cave

• Constructed during Northern Wei Dynasty

• Constructed from 500-523

http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;jsessionid=7ra9xvez8ni1?method=4&dsid=2222&dekey=Middle+Binyang+Cave&gwp=8&curtab=2222_1&sbid=lc02a

Lianhua Cave (Lotus Lianhua Cave (Lotus Cave)Cave)

• Construction started around 527

• The Buddha at the center of the cave measures 15ft

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/henan/luoyang/longmen.htm

ReferencesReferences

• http://www.chinaetravel.com/attraction/att25a.html• http://www.hillmanwonders.com/china/yungang.htm• http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/shanxi/datong/yungang_

grottoes.htm• http://www.china.org.cn/english/kuaixun/75235.htm• http://www.chinavr.net/shanxi/datong/ygsk_e.htm• http://www.chinaknowledge.de/Art/Grottoes/grottoes.html• http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/henan/luoyang/longmen.

htm