Bingling Temple Cave 172

CHINA, Gansu, Linxia

Cave 172, also known as Tianxiao North Cave, is located at the top level in the northern end of the lower temple caves, on the cliff face above Cave 169. The interior is 7 m wide, 10 m high, and 20 m deep. It is a natural limestone cave that was modified from its original form, and is linked to Cave 169 via a suspended overpass built from planks laid over wooden trestles. Scholars speculate that this cave is among the earliest caves at the site, although it appears that work within Cave 169 began slightly earlier. The works within Cave 172 were created during periods ranging from the Northern Wei (386–534) to the Ming (1368–1644) dynasty.
A wooden structure is installed in the back (west) wall of the cave, containing statues of the Buddhas of the Past, Present, and Future and their attendants. Clay reliefs in two registers are located on the north wall, dating to between the late Northern Wei (386–534) and Western Wei (535–556) dynasties. The murals in the cave, all of which date to the Ming dynasty, are painted on and around the wooden structure and carvings on all three walls. The themes of the murals include Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, disciples, Vajrapanis, and monks, as well as the Buddha’s parinirvana. There are also numerous inscriptions found within the cave, the earliest of which dates to 724.
The exterior of the cave has also been decorated with reliefs and murals. There are 11 reliefs on the walls between this cave and Cave 169 below it, the tallest of which measures 1.75 m and dates to the Northern Zhou dynasty (557–581). There is also a partial segment of a Thousand Buddhas mural painted during either the Northern Zhou or the Ming dynasties. Remnants of a boardwalk structure and some railings, which were constructed during the Tang dynasty (618–907) can be found on the outer north wall along the cliff face.