Chaoyin Cave Stone Niches

Chaoyin Cave Stone Niches

Chaoyin Cave Stone Niches is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangxi Province.

Chaoyin Cave Stone Niches is located in Funiu Village, Yuhekou Township, Nancheng County, adjacent to the Xujian River to the east. It is an ancient man-made stone niche cave, built during the Ming Dynasty and has a history of over 300 years. Outside the cave there is one niche, while inside the cave the stone walls feature twenty relief carvings of arhat Buddha statues, all of whose heads have been broken off. There is also a statue of Guanyin standing on a lotus pedestal, showcasing certain qualities of stone carving art. It is a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit of Jiangxi Province.

Looking down from the mouth of Chaoyin Cave at the Xujian River, you can see a huge rock in the river that resembles a pearl disc, situated right opposite the cave entrance. On quiet nights, when inside the cave, you can hear sounds resembling the rising and falling tides coming from beneath this rock in the river—sounds much like ocean tides, hence the name “Chaoyin Cave” (Tide Sound Cave). A local legend says, “Break open Chaoyin Cave, and build the Wan’nian Bridge.” The stones used for the Wan’nian Bridge came from this very cave. The Wan’nian Bridge was first constructed in the eighth year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty (1635) and completed in the fourth year of the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (1647), around the same time as the completion of Chaoyin Cave.

The interior of Chaoyin Cave is rectangular, about 10 meters wide and over 20 meters deep, with fresh air and a cool climate. Inside, there are multi-tiered pavilions with carved beams and painted rafters. The stone walls feature more than ten relief carvings of arhat Buddha statues, each with unique postures and vivid expressions. There is also a statue of Guanyin holding a cloud whisk and standing on a lotus pedestal. An interesting couplet is displayed at the cave entrance: “The divine temple answers prayers dawn after dawn, dawn after dawn, dawn after dawn; The river flows long, long, long, long, long, long.” In the first line, the characters for “dawn” (朝) are pronounced zhāo for the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th occurrences, and cháo for the 3rd and 5th; in the second line, the characters for “long” (长) are pronounced cháng for the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th occurrences, and zhǎng for the 3rd and 5th. This play on the multiple pronunciations and meanings of “dawn” and “long” conveys worshippers’ hopes for eternal peace and blessings as enduring as the flowing river. The horizontal scroll reads “Sudden Enlightenment,” suggesting that visitors will discover a wondrous hidden realm within the cave, and also symbolizes the moment of solving the riddle of the couplet.

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units