Statues at Ciyun Ridge

Statues at Ciyun Ridge

The Statues at Ciyun Ridge are a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

Statues at Ciyun Ridge (Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit)

Era: Five Dynasties

Announcement Date: April 15, 1961

Located on the southern foothills of Ciyun Ridge, Yuhuang Mountain, Shangcheng District. These rock carvings were created in the seventh year of the Tianfu era of the Later Jin Dynasty (942 AD), during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, when the Wuyue Kingdom built Ziyian Temple here. The main niche features seven round sculptures, with three seated statues in the center, namely the main Amitabha Buddha, Guanyin Bodhisattva, and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva. Behind them are bejeweled halo backlights, with carved entwined peony patterns inside and flame motifs along the edges. All are depicted in full lotus position, seated atop upturned lotus Sumeru pedestals. On either side are two standing bodhisattva statues and two standing heavenly king statues. Above the seven main statues are relief carvings of two flying apsaras and two kalavinkas, depicted as scattering flowers. The niche lintel is arched; at its center are seven Buddhas arranged horizontally, flanked by Manjushri riding a lion and Samantabhadra riding an elephant, all in relief. On the northern side is the Ksitigarbha niche, which houses a statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva along with two attendants on either side. Ksitigarbha is depicted bald with large ears, dressed as a monk, in a half-lotus posture with his left foot hanging down onto a lotus pedestal. The attendants stand respectfully holding objects. On the left side of the niche, a cloud formation extends outward and upward, with a relief depiction of the “Six Paths of Reincarnation” among the clouds. Nearby, there is also a twelve-character seal script inscription reading “Record of the Newly Built Town State Ziyi Yanling Stone Statues,” a cliff-carved stele-shaped “Tooth of the Buddha Praise” inscription, and other cliff engravings featuring characters such as “Buddha, Dharma, Sangha.”

Source: Zhejiang Cultural Relics Network