Carved Stone Buddhas at Fokou, Longhua

Carved Stone Buddhas at Fokou, Longhua

The Carved Stone Buddhas at Fokou, Longhua, are a protected cultural heritage site of Hebei Province.

The Carved Stone Buddhas at Fokou, Longhua, are located to the north of Shaofu Village, Lanqi Town, Longhua County, northwest of Chengde City. They were carved into the rock face on the northern bank of the Shaofu River, about 10 meters above the riverbed. They suffered severe damage during the Cultural Revolution. The remaining section stretches 9 meters from east to west and is 1.5 to 1.8 meters high. In the 1940s, the carvings were corroded by strong acid used by Japanese invaders during their occupation of China, resulting in varying degrees of damage. Over the years, local quarrying has further destroyed many of the figures. The carvings are in the style of the Liao and Jin dynasties. On the cliff to the east, in a secluded rocky shelter surrounded by mountains, there are five lines of Yuan Dynasty stone inscriptions, four of which are still preserved.

The carvings employ high relief techniques and consist of four groups. The first group features three statues of the Buddhas of the Three Ages seated in semi-relief on a lotus pedestal with a waistband design, their faces serene and smiling, wearing shawl-patterned robes, with hands resting flat on their crossed knees. Flanking each of the Three Age Buddhas is a standing Buddha, while the back features a wall of thousand Buddhas. The second and third groups each depict a wall of thousand Buddhas inside niches, arranged in two tiers totaling 107 figures. The fourth group includes 20 seated Buddha statues with high topknots, long drooping ears, solemn facial expressions, and natural postures. About 200 meters to the east on the rocky cliff, there are five lines of Yuan Dynasty stone inscriptions, four of which remain. At the foot of the mountain in front of the carvings, many coarse linen roof tiles have been found, believed to be remnants of a temple from that time. On July 15, 1993, the site was listed as a Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit of Hebei Province.

Transportation Guide

Location: North of Shaofu Village, Lanqi Town, Longhua County, Chengde City, Hebei Province

Getting There: Take a bus from Longhua County to Lanqi Town, then transfer to a minibus or walk a short distance to reach Shaofu Village.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Protected Cultural Heritage Sites of Hebei Province