North Cave Temple Cave 165

CHINA, Gansu, Qingyang

Cave 165 is known locally simply as the Buddha Cave. It is the largest cave within this cave system, and the most well-preserved. The cave was created during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534). The interior measures 21.7 m wide, 14 m high, and 15.7 m deep.
Drapery is sculpted on the exterior wall above the cave entrance, and a Heavenly King and a lion stand on either side of the entrance. A large relief of the Prince Mahasattva Jataka offering himself to the starving tigress is carved on either side of the window above the entrance within the cave. A Bodhisattva seated upon an elephant is depicted on the right side of the entrance, and on the left side is an asura with three heads and four arms seated upon a Sumeru throne. An image of Maitreya Bodhisattva is located on each side of the front (west) wall.
Spaced along the three other inner walls are seven standing Buddha statues. The Buddhas are each approximately 8 m high. Spaced between the Buddhas are ten Bodhisattvas, each 3 m to 4 m high.