Bingling Temple Cave 3

CHINA, Gansu, Linxia

This is the southernmost cave in the lower temple caves. Construction of Cave 3 began during the Tang dynasty (618–907), with many of the murals repainted during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). The rectangular cave measures 3.4 m wide, 3.52 m high, and 3.1 m deep, and has a flat ceiling. The majority of the original statues and carvings in the cave are either damaged or no longer exist; however, a stone pagoda and two small niches on the south wall are relatively well preserved. During the Ming dynasty, the entire cave was renovated to reflect Tibetan Buddhist themes. All of the murals were repainted, and inscriptions dating from 1522 to 1566 were added. These Vajrayana murals are the most well-preserved and the richest in variety among the Bingling Temple Caves.
The stone pagoda, which dates to the Tang dynasty, stands in the center of the cave. It is rectangular in shape and has a hip roof. The structure consists of a base, body, and roof. It has a total height of 2.23 m, while the base is 1.4 m wide and 1.39 m deep. The raised base of the structure is square, with ten small steps leading up to it. The remnants of eyelets can be discerned along the edges of the base, suggesting that there may have once been railings surrounding it. The roof of the pagoda is sloped, with the top embellished with a three-pointed rectangular Sumeru throne. Imitation wooden brackets are carved just below the eaves. The roof section of this pagoda presents a unique combination of an Indian harmika and Chinese bracket sets, providing valuable material for research on Tang dynasty architecture. The body of the pagoda is an imitation of traditional Chinese wooden architecture and is three bays wide with a rectangular niche opening in the center.
On the south wall are two niches, both of which originally housed sculptures of a Buddha, two disciples, and two Bodhisattvas, though the disciples in the lower niche are no longer extant. Within the upper niche, the Buddha stands upon a round pedestal and holds an alms bowl in the left hand. The Buddha is flanked by the disciples Mahakasyapa and Ananda, as well as two Bodhisattvas holding jewels before their abdomens. The lower niche is larger and similar in style to the upper niche; however, the two disciples it originally contained have been replaced with murals.
The currently extant murals were all painted during the Ming dynasty and occupy a total of 40 sq m. They are located on the ceiling, all four walls, on the interiors of the small niches, and on the sides and base of the stone pagoda. On the west wall, the murals depict seated Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and disciples. On the south wall are 50 images, including the Medicine Buddha; Eleven-Headed, Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara; Three-Headed, Twelve-Armed Bodhisattva; Four-Headed, Eight-Armed Bodhisattva; and a number of Wisdom Kings. The murals on the north wall depict multi-armed Avalokitesvaras, the Medicine Buddha, Manjusri, and multi-armed Bodhisattvas. The east wall is filled with the Thousand Buddhas and Heavenly Kings.