Longmen Grotto 2194

CHINA, Henan, Luoyang

Grotto 2194 is also known as Kanjing Temple. It is located on the Yi River’s east bank, on the north side of Wanfogou (Ten Thousand Buddha Gorge). Constructed in the Tang dynasty (618–907), the west-facing grotto measures 11.16 m in width, 8.25 m in height, and 11.7 m in depth, and is the largest on the east bank. Consisting of an antechamber and a main chamber, the wide entrance is 6.4 m in height and 5.22 m in width. A warrior is found on either side of the entrance but only remnants remain of the warrior on the right. The side walls of the antechamber are covered with small niches.
The ceiling of the main chamber has a double-layered lotus medallion encircled by six apsaras. A Buddha seated in full lotus position is located in the center of the grotto. The Buddha has a wide usnisa and wears a monastic robe that covers both shoulders. Relief images of 29 Arhats, each 1.8 m in height, are located along the lower sections of the north, south, and back (east) walls. Wearing monastic robes, the detailed and realistic Arhats have varied facial expressions and postures. These Arhats may represent the Twenty-Nine Patriarchs from India as recorded in Buddhist scriptures. A niche on the left of the main chamber’s front (west) wall houses a Buddha and two Bodhisattvas, while the niche on the right side houses a Buddha, two disciples, and two Bodhisattvas, with two warriors outside the niche. Nine rows of small seated Buddhas are found in the center of the south wall. Five rows of Bodhisattvas carved in bas-relief are depicted in the center of the north wall, while a row of 16 small seated Buddhas is located above.