Yungang Grotto 20

CHINA, Shanxi, Datong

Located in the west area, this south-facing great Buddha grotto was constructed between the years 460 and 465 during the Northern Wei dynasty. It features a large, seated Buddha with a smaller standing Buddha to the right. Another standing Buddha sculpture was originally located on the opposite wall, but is no longer extant. The layout is similar to that of Grotto 18, consisting of a single chamber with a vaulted ceiling. Grotto 20 is among the earliest grottoes constructed at Yungang.
In 1940, a number of items were discovered in this grotto, including Wuzhu coins from the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534), roof tiles, ancient eave tiles with lotus patterns, bricks and charcoal dating to the Liao dynasty (907–1125), and a stone fragment with an inscription dating it to 1104. It is believed that the grotto originally had a wooden structure outside its entrance, which underwent renovation between the Northern Wei and Liao dynasties. That structure was likely destroyed in battles which took place in the area during the late Liao dynasty.
The front (south) wall, ceiling, and a section of the west wall of the grotto have collapsed, revealing the large seated Buddha on the back (north) wall. The figure is 13.7 m in height and sits cross-legged with both hands forming the dhyana (meditation) mudra. Two Bodhisattvas originally flanked the Buddha, but these figures no longer exist.
The standing Buddha on the east wall is 8.95 m in height and has features that resemble those of the main Buddha. Two small niches are carved into the east grotto wall above the standing Buddha; the upper niche contains sculptures of a seated Buddha and two attendants, while the lower one contains sculptures of Sakyamuni and Prabhutaratna Buddhas. There are also small niches carved under the Buddha’s feet, but these have suffered severe damage.