Yuhanshan Rock Carvings

CHINA, Shandong, Jinan

Located at the northern foothill of Yuhanshan (Jade Case Mountain), these rock carvings are approximately 4 km from Jinan in Shandong. Sixty-seven large and small niches arranged in five rows are carved on the cliff. Seven inscriptions dated from 584 to 600 of the Sui dynasty have been preserved.
The first row contains Niches 1 to 5, each housing statues that are 1.2 m high. Niche 1 contains statues of a Buddha and two Bodhisattvas commissioned by Yin Hongcuan in 587. The main statue is seated in full lotus position and wears a monastic robe that covers both shoulders, while forming the dhyana (meditation) mudra with both hands. The statues in Niche 3 were commissioned by Wang Jingzun in 588 and have a similar structure and style to those of Niche 1. The second row are Niches 6 to 20, which contain 18 statues of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Niches 21 to 31 can be found on the third row. Apart from Niches 21 and 31, which each contain one Buddha and two Bodhisattvas, and Niche 29, which contains two Buddhas, the rest contain only a single seated Buddha.
The fourth row contains Niches 32 to 63 and has the most open niches. Apart from Niches 56 to 63, which display the Seven Buddhas, the rest have Bodhisattvas. Niches 64, 65, and 67 contain inscriptions from the Sui dynasty (581–618), and the remaining sculptures from the Sui dynasty exhibit robust bodies and detailed clothing.