Dazu Rock Carvings Miaogaoshan

CHINA, Chongqing, Dazu

Miaogaoshan is located just south of Dongfeng Reservoir Dam in Jijia township, which is 37.5 km southwest of Dazu, Chongqing. In addition to the eight numbered sites, Miaogao Temple was also situated on this mountain, but has since been destroyed. All of the caves and niches on Miaogaoshan were constructed during the Song dynasty (960–1279). The carvings primarily depict Buddhist images, with the exception of Cave 2, which features a combination of Buddhist, Confucian, and Daoist themes.
Niche 1, located in the central section of the cliff, includes an inscription dating it to 1144; however, this niche is in poor condition and its main statue, Amitabha Buddha, is badly weathered. Niche 2 contains a carving of Sakyamuni Buddha seated in full lotus position on a lotus throne, flanked by the two disciples Mahakasyapa and Ananda. An image of Laozi has been carved on one wall of the niche, and Confucius is on the other. An inscription near the cave entrance was recorded by Wen Yi and Wen Zhu, nephews of sculptor Wen Zhongzhang from Dongpu, in the year 1144.
Cave 3 contains the Avatamsaka Triad of Vairocana Buddha with Manjusri and Samantabhadra. The central figure in Cave 4 is Amitabha Buddha, flanked by Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattvas. Five Avalokitesvara Bodhisattvas, standing barefoot on lotus pedestals, are on both the side walls. The left part of the niche opening has collapsed.
Cave 5 has a flat ceiling. In the center of the cave, there is a carving of a Water-Moon Avalokitesvara. Sudhana is depicted on one side of the Bodhisattva, and the Naga Girl is on the other. Inscriptions on two stone tablets in the cave state that it was constructed in 1155.