Western Grotto Temple

Western Grotto Temple

The Western Grotto Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Western Grotto Temple is located on the southern slope of Fenglong Mountain and was first established during the Northern Qi Dynasty, reaching a certain scale during the Northern Song Dynasty. Originally a temple complex, it had over ten halls and meditation rooms. Now, all the buildings are gone, leaving only three grottoes. In recent years, a structure that is neither a proper corridor nor a building has been erected to offer some protection against rain, though not wind. It’s a kind of preservation, at least. Upon closer inspection, there are still some grooves carved into the rock walls, likely where pillars and beams once stood in ancient times.

The westernmost cave, known as Cave 3, features the Three Ages of Buddha, carved during the Northern Qi Dynasty of the Northern and Southern Dynasties period. At the center is the statue of Guanyin (the Goddess of Mercy), with Samantabhadra Bodhisattva riding an elephant on the left and Manjushri Bodhisattva riding a lion on the right. However, the statues of Manjushri and Samantabhadra did not survive the Cultural Revolution and were both destroyed. Only fragments of the elephant and lion remain. These remnants were later mixed with cement and restored, though the craftsmanship leaves much to be desired. Still, the fragments attached to the cement pedestals are worth observing and contemplating, allowing us to imagine the former beauty of the complete figures.

The surrounding cave walls are covered with small carvings of Buddha statues. Behind the halo of the Guanyin statue, there were originally eighteen arhat sculptures, but only two arhats remain today. The central Thousand Buddha Cave (Cave 2), built during the Tang Dynasty, houses the Three Ages of Buddha and features 958 intricately carved small Buddha statues, each uniquely shaped and exquisitely made. Some of the Buddha statues have been pried off and stolen. It's heartbreaking, and it underscores the ongoing need for stronger cultural heritage protection. Until we left, we never saw any staff around — they were probably off-duty and resting, as we spotted a bed inside the grotto. To the east lies the Great Reclining Buddha (Cave 1), built during the Song Dynasty, depicting the Buddha (Sakyamuni) in a reclining position, symbolizing his entry into Nirvana. Unfortunately, it is now enclosed by iron railings, which hinder the viewing experience. This could be called a form of “destructive preservation,” as are the iron fences at the entrance of each grotto, for that matter.