Hongqing Temple Grottoes

CHINA, Henan, Yima

The six east-facing grottoes making up the Hongqing Temple Grottoes are located south of the Jian River in the eastern foothills of Bailushan (White Deer Mountain). Grotto 1 is a central pillar grotto, Grottoes 2 to 5 are shrine grottoes, and Grotto 6 is a meditation grotto. Constructed during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534), the grottoes were listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 2001.
Grotto 1 had a square plan with a depth of 5 m; unfortunately, the front half of the grotto has collapsed. All three walls and the upper section of the central pillar feature large relief carvings of images from the Life of the Buddha. The north and south walls depict, respectively, the Prince Siddhartha’s Great Departure and Bidding Farewell to the White Horse. The back (west) wall illustrates the Defeat of Mara, and the carvings located above the niche lintel on the central pillar depict the First Turning of the Dharma Wheel at Deer Park.
Grotto 2 is a mid-sized grotto with a depth of 3 m. Grotto 3 is similar in size to Grotto 1 with a depth of 5 m. Grottoes 4, 5, and 6 are all small grottoes with a depth of not more than 3 m.