Ten Thousand Buddha Caves

CHINA, Shaanxi, Yan’an

Of the Ten Thousand Buddha Caves located on Qingliangshan (Cool Mountain) in Yan’an, four caves remain today. Work on the caves began in the late Northern Song dynasty (960–1127). There are several inscriptions detailing the work done in these caves that date from 1078 to 1083. The caves were listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 1956.
Cave 1 is square with a Buddha altar in the center. Large reliefs of seated Manjusri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas are found on both sides of the front wall, while above them carvings of small seated Buddhas and other figures exist. Steles below date from 1207 of the Jin dynasty and from the rule of Emperor Chenghua (reigned 1464–1487) of the Ming dynasty. The main chamber measures 6.4 m high, 16.1 m to 17.6 m wide, and 12.9 m deep. Enshrined on the altar are standing images of the Buddhas of the Past, Present, and Future. The Thousand Buddhas fill the cave walls. There are also carvings of Avatamsaka Triads, in addition to various representations of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, Arhats, and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. Among the carvings is a relic pagoda, identified by the inscription as dating to 1078 of the Song dynasty. The pagoda features stories from the Life of the Buddha.
The plan of Cave 2 is rectangular, measuring 4.9 m to 5.7 m in width, 4.55 m in depth, and 4.6 m in height. The decorated ceiling takes the form of an octagonal lotus. The relief on the back wall depicts Buddhas of the Past, Present, and Future, with four attendant disciples. Manjusri and Samantabhadra are carved on the side walls, facing each other. Caves 3 and 4 were excavated at a later period and consist of square layouts with Buddha altars and lotus ceilings. Some of the walls contain carvings of sutra illustrations.