Yungang Grottoes 14 to 16
Yungang Grotto 16: Front and West Walls
Yungang Grotto 16: Buddha Niches (east wall of window)
Yungang Grotto 16
CHINA, Shanxi, Datong
Constructed between the years 460 and 465, this great Buddha grotto is on the easternmost side of the Five Grottoes of Tanyao. The apsidal grooto has a vaulted ceiling.
On the back (north) wall of the grotto is a 13.5 m high standing Buddha. The lower portions of the statue, mandorla, and grotto ceiling have all suffered severe weathering. The doorway is located along the front (south) wall with a window carved above it, and the surrounding area is filled with numerous Buddha niches portraying a variety of figures and themes. The style and layout of these niches, along with many of those on the east and west walls, suggest that the majority were not original to the grotto, but were added later on after its completion.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves T-Z, page 1718.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Johnson, Peter and Mankuang and Huntington, Susan and Edson, Gary and Neather, Robert,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves T-Z},
pages = 1718,
title = {{Yungang Grotto 16}},
volume = 9,
year = {2016}}