Dazu Rock Carvings Baodingshan

CHINA, Chongqing, Dazu

Baodingshan means Treasure Peak Mountain. It is located 17.5 km northeast of Dazu. At the top of the mountain is Shengshou Temple. A valley known as Great Buddha Bay, containing 18 sites of caves and rock carvings, is located to the northwest of the temple. Small Buddha Bay, another valley, is to the east. The carvings at this site were done between 1179 and 1249 during the Song dynasty (960–1279). The construction was led by Zhao Zhifeng, a local monk from Dazu and a successor of the eminent Vajrayana monk, Liu Benzun, who lived during the Late Tang period (846–907). Baodingshan was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 1961, and as part of Dazu Rock Carvings, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.
Great Buddha Bay is a U-shaped valley, with an opening on the west, and is approximately 500 m in length with cliffs over 15 m in height. There are 31 numbered sites with carvings on the north, south, and east cliff walls. The focal point of the valley is a large reclining Buddha that takes up the entire east cliff wall. The immediately adjacent carvings on the north and south cliffs depict stories from the Life of the Buddha, including the Birth of Prince Siddhartha, Bathing by the Nine Nagas, and the Four Encounters. Two important Vajrayana Bodhisattvas are the next closest images to the Buddha: a Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva on the south cliff, and Mahamayuri on the north cliff.
The carvings on the south cliff are separated into two sections, with an entrance to the valley carved between them. The eastern section displays, from west to east: Tiger Leaving the Mountain, Dharma protectors, the Wheel of Rebirth, the Palace of Great Treasures, an Avatamsaka Triad, and a relic pagoda. The carvings on the west section of the cliff include images of Ox Herding and the Perfect Enlightenment Cave.
The carvings to the left of Mahamayuri on the north cliff is dedicated to Vairocana and include, an illustration of the Sutra on the Profound Kindness of Parents, an illustration of the Returning Favors Sutra, an illustration of the Amitayurdhyana Sutra, Controlling the Six Senses, illustrations of the hells, depiction of the Ten Austerities of Liu Benzun, and portrayals of the Ten Wisdom Kings.
Small Buddha Bay, located just north of Great Buddha Bay, is thought to contain the oldest set of carvings at Baodingshan. The site includes the Benzun Hall of Shengshou Temple where carvings, sculptures, and inscriptions are still preserved. These carvings are similar in theme to those found at Great Buddha Bay. The main structure is a chamber built along the cliff. The chamber’s walls were constructed with stone tiles, while stone beams and columns support a stone ceiling. The interior contains over 1,200 sculptures carved into the walls. Also located at this site is a Sutra Catalog Pagoda inscribed with the titles of 510 sutras and verses. Due to the wealth of information engraved on it, this pagoda has been a crucial resource for the study of rock carvings at Baodingshan.