Shuiquan Cave

CHINA, Henan, Luoyang

Shuiquan Cave is the only cave located on the cliffs of Wan’anshan (Rest Assured Mountain) in Yanshi, Luoyang. This west-facing cave was constructed by enlarging a pre-existing natural cave. There were originally wooden eaves on the facade, but they have since deteriorated. The cave’s interior is 7 m high, 7 m wide, and 11 m deep. The cave is listed as a Provincial Cultural Heritage Site.
The back (east) wall is carved with two standing Buddhas. The Buddha on the left has an overall height of 5 m, while the remnants of the other Buddha, damaged from the waist up, reach only 3 m. According to the inscription on the cliff outside the cave, the Buddhas in this cave were built by Monk Tanfu for Emperor Xiaoming (reigned 515–528) and Empress Hu of the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534). The inscription also summarizes the historical significance of Buddhist sculpture in the Luoyang area.
The south and north side walls, as well as the corridor and facade, are covered with niches of differing sizes and designs. Most of the larger niches contain a Buddha with either two disciples or two Bodhisattvas. The top niches are carved with stories from the Life of the Buddha.