Tiantishan Grottoes

CHINA, Gansu, Wuwei

This grotto system is also known as the Dafo Temple and is situated in the southern foothills of Tiantishan (Heavenly Stairway Mountain). The construction of the grottoes began during the Northern Liang dynasty (397–439), and they were restored during the Sui (581–618), Tang (618–907), Song (960–1279), Western Xia (1032–1227), Yuan (1271–1368), and Ming (1368–1644) dynasties. Seventeen grottoes of various sizes remain. Tiantishan Grottoes were listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 2001.
The grottoes can be grouped in three different types. The first has five pillars inside a rectangular chamber. A central pillar carved with niches on four sides is located towards the back of this type of grotto, with square pillars at the four corners. The second type is a square central pillar cave, while the third is square with a truncated pyramidal ceiling.
Grottoes 1 and 4 are constructed as central pillar caves. All four sides of the pillar contain either two or three niches. The few murals on the walls within these grottoes are thought to have been painted during the Northern Liang dynasty.
The other grottoes of note are Grottoes 2, 3, and 13, all of which were created during the Tang dynasty. Grotto 13 is the largest at Tiantishan, measuring 19 m wide, about 28 m high, and 6 m deep. The statues inside it include a Buddha, two Bodhisattvas, two disciples, and two Heavenly Kings. The paintings within depict Jataka tales.