Bazhong Rock Carvings Western Niches

CHINA, Sichuan, Bazhong

The Western Niches, located approximately 1 km west of Bazhong in Western Niches village, are the earliest group of caves constructed at the Bazhong Rock Carvings site. Although some of the carvings have suffered damage, the Western Niches contain the richest variety of images in the area. There are currently over 90 niches containing 2,120 sculptures in various locations around the site. Niches 1 to 52 are located around Foyewan, at the foot of Fenggushan (Phoenix Valley Mountain); Niches 53 to 55 and Niche 92 are situated by the mountainside at Liubeichi; and the rest are scattered around Longri Temple at the peak. One distinguishing feature of the Bazhong Rock Carvings are the particularly elaborate and decorative niche lintels, evident in the Western Niches. This commenced with the lavish decoration on the lintel of Niche 21 during the Tang dynasty (618–907), and is present on the majority of niches from that era.
Foyewan, also known as Western Niche Temple, has niches mainly distributed along the cliff oriented north-south. According to the inscription in Niche 21, dating to the Five Dynasties (907–960), the earliest construction at the site is estimated to have taken place during the Sui dynasty (581–618). The majority of the niches were constructed during the High Tang period (712–756). The statues at Foyewan include Sakyamuni Buddha, Maitreya Buddha, Bodhi Figure, Seven Buddhas, Sakyamuni and Prabhutaratna Buddhas seated together, an illustration of the Western Pure Land, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, funerary pagodas, and remnants of steles. One example of the niches at the Foyewan site is Niche 18, a severely weathered double-layer niche. It contains statues of a Buddha and two disciples, and each side wall is sculpted with a Bodhisattva. The Buddha sits cross-legged upon a throne, wearing a monastic robe that covers one shoulder. Behind the statue is a multi-layered nimbus comprised of a circular disc encircled in a flame-shaped nimbus.
Niche 44 is a double-layered niche with an arched inner layer, containing statues of a Buddha, two disciples, and four Bodhisattvas. Two warriors stand at the entrance to the niche, while the side walls are covered with reliefs of the Eight Classes of Dharma Protectors. The main Buddha statue is a Bodhi Figure, who sits in full lotus position on a raised platform, wearing a crown and adorned with ornaments. His arms are decorated with armlets and he wears a monastic robe which covers the left shoulder. The right hand forms the bhumisparsa (earth-touching) mudra, and engraved behind him is a petal-shaped nimbus carved with an openwork design. Many similar statues can be found along various cliffs in Sichuan, and are believed to have been constructed during the Tang dynasty. Some have inscriptions indicating that these images are “Bodhi Figures,” depicting the auspicious signs of Sakyamuni Buddha during his enlightenment.
There are currently the remains of two damaged niches, a few steles, and funerary pagodas in Liubeichi. Niche 53 was originally sculpted with an illustration of the Western Pure Land. Although the niche statues have been weathered beyond recognition, the heavenly palace and the lavish octagonal canopy portraying the scene of the Pure Land are still well preserved. The heavenly palace has provided researchers with rare information regarding Tang dynasty architecture.
There are currently more than 30 niches at Longrishan (Dragon Day Mountain), most of which were constructed during the Early Tang period (618–712) and High Tang period. The sculptures include Sakyamuni Buddha, Bodhi Figure, Seven Buddhas, Thousand Buddhas, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, and Maitreya Buddha. The main statue in Niche 87 at Longrishan is identical with the Bodhi Figure in Niche 44 at Foyewan.