Zhangfuzhuang Cliff Stone Carvings

Zhangfuzhuang Cliff Stone Carvings

The Zhangfuzhuang Cliff Stone Carvings are a cultural relic protection unit of Hebei Province.

The Buddha statues were carved into a massive rock at the eastern end of Wulishan Mountain.

This huge boulder features a total of 67 stone Buddhas, with the central one being the largest—standing 330 cm tall, with a face 90 cm wide, chest 174 cm wide, and shoulders 200 cm wide. The figure is robust, with a square-round face, a straight nose bridge, large ears that hang to the shoulders, round eyes and thin lips, eyebrows exuding a noble glow, and an expression that is solemn and majestic. At both ends of the large Buddha statue, smaller stone Buddhas of various shapes are carved. There are 28 on the left side and 32 on the right, arranged in parallel rows. The larger ones are 35 cm tall, while the smaller ones are less than 25 cm. These small stone Buddha statues are seated in lotus position, some with hands clasped together and others with hands in a V-shape. All have high ushnishas (hair buns), wear kasayas (monk robes), and feature vivid and unique imagery. The carving technique is similar to low or high relief, with fine craftsmanship and distinct period characteristics. They serve as important physical materials for studying ancient religious art and religious history. According to experts on ancient Buddha statues in Hebei Province, the style and carving techniques of these stone Buddha statues are believed to date back to the Northern Wei Dynasty.

The Yongping Prefecture Annals record: The Stone Buddha Temple is located ten li west of the county. Nanpi’s Zhang Taifu wrote in his poem “Incidental Verses on the Rear Hill of the Stone Statue Temple”: “The undulating ridges connect to Huangtai, / On a fine and breezy day I come alone. / The stone statues have survived several calamities, / While countless wild crabapple blossoms bloom toward people. / The Tuan Mountain stretches east then faces south, / The Luan River flows west, returning from the north. / Many thanks to the old monk who accompanied me on the trip, / Who pointed out the site standing on the moss.” Also: “In April, Zhili suffers fierce winds and sands; / After the rain, climbing brings tranquility without clamor. / Green hills surround the county from high and low, / Faint green trees reveal scattered homes. / A clear temple bell rings as trained pigeons take flight. / It is said that stubborn stones nod their heads, / But who can expound the Dharma so flowers fall from the sky?”

Discovered during the 1986 April cultural relics survey in Qian’an, documentation was compiled.

Designated as a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit by the Tangshan Municipal People's Government in June 1989.

Designated as a cultural relic protection unit of Hebei Province by the Hebei Provincial People's Government in October 2008.