The Thousand Buddha Cliff Grottoes and the Stele of the Duke of Ming

The Thousand Buddha Cliff Grottoes and the Stele of the Duke of Ming

The Thousand Buddha Cliff Grottoes and the Stele of the Duke of Ming are designated as Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.

The Thousand Buddha Cliff Grottoes on Qixia Mountain are the only surviving Buddhist stone carvings from the Six Dynasties period in Nanjing.

The Thousand Buddha Cliff Grottoes are located along the cliffs stretching from Shamao Peak to Hushan Peak on Qixia Mountain. The carving of the statues began during the Southern Qi Dynasty. Legend has it that after the monk Ming Sengshao donated his residence to establish a temple, he dreamed of the Buddha’s radiant light shining on the western cliffs of Qixia. Inspired, he resolved to carve Buddha statues into the rock face, but he passed away before realizing his vision. His son, Ming Zhongzhang, then the magistrate of Linyi County, fulfilled his father’s wish by funding the project. Together with Master Fadu, he initiated the carving of niches and Buddha statues on the western cliffs in the second year of the Yongming era (484 AD) of the Southern Qi Dynasty. This site is known as the Hall of Infinite Life on the Thousand Buddha Cliff. The design of the colossal statue of the Infinite Life Buddha was created by the renowned monk Sengyou (445–518 AD) from Jiankang during the Qi and Liang periods. The seated statue of the Infinite Life Buddha stands 3 zhang 1 chi 5 cun (approximately 10 meters) tall, with the total height reaching nearly 4 zhang. On either side are statues of the Bodhisattvas Guanyin and Shizhi, each 3 zhang 3 chi (approximately 11 meters) tall. These three deities are collectively referred to as the “Three Saints of the West,” hence this niche is also called the “Hall of the Three Saints,” commonly known as the “Great Buddha Pavilion.” These massive Buddha and Bodhisattva statues exude a majestic and solemn beauty. In front of the Hall of Infinite Life are two statues of the Guiding Buddha from the Sui Dynasty, which were moved here from the Relic Pagoda during the Republican era. The Guiding Buddhas are vividly crafted, full of divine presence, reflecting the elegant and refined artistic style of the Jiangnan region.

In the second year of the Datong era of the Liang Dynasty (536 AD), a sudden radiance was said to have emanated from the top of the niches on the Thousand Buddha Cliff. Believed to be a manifestation of the Buddha, this event prompted the royal families and nobles of both the Qi and Liang dynasties to compete in donating funds for carving stone statues here. By the tenth year of the Tianjian era (511 AD), a rough scale had been achieved, taking a total of twenty-two years, resulting in a cluster of grottoes. These grottoes were carved earlier than the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang but later than the Yungang Grottoes in Datong.

Moving eastward from the Hall of Infinite Life, the grottoes are distributed across the cliffs and their northern sides, on the ridges and slopes, varying in height according to the natural contours of the rock faces. The statues vary in size, posture, and expression—some stand solemn and robust, others smile amicably, some appear devout, while others exude serene compassion. Some niches house five or six statues, others seven or eight; some chambers contain around ten, while some halls accommodate over twenty, each displaying unique charm. The layout inside the niches may feature one Buddha flanked by two Bodhisattvas or one Buddha and one disciple. Often, niches are guarded by Heavenly Kings or warrior figures on either side of the entrance, and some Buddha pedestals feature pairs of crouching lions, symbolizing "lions listening to the Dharma." The statues range from several zhang in height to just over a foot. Most grotto niches are horseshoe-shaped in plan, single-chambered without frontal walls, featuring domed ceilings, three-walled altars, or open-fronted altars with raised central platforms. Some niches still retain brick and stone doorways from the Ming Dynasty. In December 1925, the renowned archaeologist Xiang Da conducted an on-site survey and recorded a total of 294 niches and 515 statues. In December 1994, the Nanjing Museum conducted a new survey, identifying 250 niches of various sizes with 520 statues, collectively referred to as the “Thousand Buddhas.” These niches, varying in size, are scattered across the cliff face, resembling dragon palaces or beehives up close and honeycomb-like pigeon coops from afar, presenting a spectacular sight.

Due to the passage of time, the Thousand Buddha Cliff has suffered severe weathering and erosion. In 1925, the abbot of the temple, Master Ruoshun, spent nearly two years repairing the site. Lacking expertise in stone restoration, he used a simple method of applying cement to the statues. As a result, the original charm and spiritual essence of the carvings were lost. Later, during the Cultural Revolution, the Thousand Buddha Cliff suffered further devastation. None of the statues survived intact, and this once magnificent thousand-year-old artistic treasure was left unrecognizable, greatly diminishing its artistic value. Nevertheless, the Thousand Buddha Cliff Grottoes remain among the finest examples of Southern Dynasties Buddhist sculpture still in existence, preserving inscriptions by notable figures. For instance, halfway up the cliff, there are inscriptions by Xu Xuan and Xu Kai, calligraphers of the Southern Tang Dynasty. Though weathered by over a thousand years, their “spiral seal script” remains strikingly eye-catching.

The Stele of the Duke of Ming consists of 33 lines, each with 74 characters, documenting the origin and history of the Thousand Buddha Cliff Grottoes. The text was composed by Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, Li Zhi, and written in running script by Gao Zhengchen. The stele is one of the earliest surviving examples of a running script stele in China, characterized by its smooth brushstrokes and rigorous structure, making it highly valuable artistically. The material of the stele is fossilized shallow-sea organisms such as sea lily stems and Chinese pore corals, dating back 280 million years, making it a rare geological specimen of significant scientific value.

In 2001, the Thousand Buddha Cliff Grottoes and the Stele of the Duke of Ming were included in the fifth group of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level by the State Council.

Further Reading:

· First and Second Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units

· Fifth Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level