South Xiangtang Temple

South Xiangtang Temple

South Xiangtang Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

South Xiangtang Temple

South Xiangtang Temple is situated at a strategic point on the western side of the "Fukou Pass," one of the ancient eight passes of the Taihang Mountains (now Xizhifang Village). It consists of grottoes, cliffside pavilions, halls, and ancient pagodas. According to an extant stele from the Sui Dynasty, it was first built in 565 AD, boasting a history of over 1,400 years. There are seven grottoes that together contain more than 3,700 Buddha statues, with over 38 inscriptions bearing dates. All the grottoes were carved during the Northern Qi Dynasty, and the caves, their interiors, as well as nearby cliffs, also feature many additional rock carvings from the Sui and Tang Dynasties. The temple complex also houses a Song Dynasty pagoda, halls from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and century-old trees.

South Xiangtang Temple has seven grottoes, built along the mountain slope and divided into upper and lower levels. The lower level includes two caves, “Huayan” (Avatamsaka) and “Prajna” (Wisdom), which are shaped like ladder supports, featuring square pillars in the middle and passageways carved beneath the rear walls to facilitate movement during worship. Although the Buddha statues in the niches have been damaged, the Buddhist scriptures carved on the cave walls remain clearly visible. Records indicate that some of these scriptures took up to four years to carve. The characters are square-shaped, structurally simple yet robust, with strong and forceful brushstrokes, making them precious artifacts for the study of calligraphic evolution. Ascending the zigzag stone steps in front of the caves leads to the five upper-level grottoes, among which the “Thousand Buddha Cave” is the most spectacular. The cave houses 1,028 stone Buddha statues, hence its name. Inside, there are three niches on the cave walls, each containing a central Buddha flanked by two arhats and two bodhisattvas — five figures in total. On the left side, the seated Buddha’s feet rest on a double-headed lotus that emerges from a lion’s mouth, presenting a rather unique and novel design. The seated statue of Sakyamuni in the cave has a smooth and round face, slightly upturned lips, long ears reaching the shoulders, and a serene, kind expression. The small Buddha statues lining the cave walls are densely and beautifully arranged. The ceiling features exquisitely carved celestial musicians and flying apsaras, with flowing ribbons and charming postures. Some hold vertical harps or round zithers, while others play bamboo mouth organs or transverse flutes, all rendered with vivid detail.

Both the North and South Xiangtang Temples are National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units. Their splendid grotto art is a crystallization of the wisdom of China’s working people and serves as an artistic treasure trove for studying China’s sculpture, painting, calligraphy, and the development of Buddhism.