Cliff Carvings on Qingfeng Mountain

Cliff Carvings on Qingfeng Mountain

The cliff carvings on Qingfeng Mountain are a cultural relic protection unit of Tai’an City.

Cliff Carvings on Qingfeng Mountain

Located on the northern side of the western valley of Qingfeng Mountain, south of Dongping County, these are Buddhist cliff carvings. There are two groups of carvings. The first group is near the mountaintop, distributed in a fan shape, and dates back to the Song Dynasty. At the center is a sculpture of one Buddha flanked by two disciples. The Buddha stands 1.5 meters tall, seated in the lotus position on a Sumeru pedestal, with ears that reach the shoulders, a high usnisa, and wearing a monastic robe draped over both shoulders, with hands forming the gestures of fearlessness and granting wishes. On the left and right cliffs, there are nine arhat sculptures on each side, totaling eighteen arhats. Their postures vary, and they are vividly lifelike. The second group of carvings is located 60 meters below the first group and features three sculptures of the Buddhas of the Three Ages, each nearly 2 meters tall, seated in the lotus position on a Sumeru pedestal and wearing robes with double collars hanging down. Their faces are round and somewhat unattractive in appearance. These three sculptures are from a later period. The cliff carvings on Qingfeng Mountain are a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit.