Dizishi Cliff Carvings (Dafo Temple)

Dizishi Cliff Carvings (Dafo Temple)

The Dizishi Cliff Carvings (Dafo Temple) are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Period: Yuan to Qing Dynasties

Type: Grotto Temples and Rock Carvings

Region: Kaixian District, Chongqing

Batch: Seventh Batch

The Dizishi Cliff Carvings (Dafo Temple) are situated by the Yangtze River, backed by a mountain cliff and facing the river. There are eight existing carvings and one ancient building, the Five Buddhas Hall. Among them, there is one niche from the Yuan Dynasty, which is 13.75 meters high, 10.45 meters wide, and 2.55 meters deep. The niche contains a statue of Maitreya Buddha flanked by two attendant disciples. The Maitreya Buddha is seated in a crossed-leg position, standing 7.5 meters tall, with a high ushnisha carved with spiral curls on its head, a square and round face, and a solemn expression. The Buddha wears an inner sanghati, a sash tied in a floral knot at the waist, an outer right-shoulder-exposed kasaya, and a large skirt. The left hand rests on the knee while the right hand curls the fingers upward to the shoulder. It sits on a rectangular pedestal with bare feet touching the ground. On either side of the Buddha are carved standing disciples with hands clasped in prayer, each 2.3 meters tall.

The Five Buddhas Hall is a Qing Dynasty double-eave hip-and-gable roof structure, five bays wide (18.5 meters) and two bays deep (7.7 meters). Inside the hall, a niche on the stone wall features three statues of the Three Ages of Buddhas carved in the 19th year of the Yongle era (1421) of the Ming Dynasty, each standing 3.95 meters tall. On either side are carved statues of Manjushri and Samantabhadra riding a blue lion and a white elephant, respectively.

According to the "Baxian County Annals": "It was carved by Zou Xing of the Ming Xia Inspection Yuan." The large Buddha by the river was carved during the late Yuan Dynasty, the five Buddha statues were carved in the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty, and the Five Buddhas Hall temple was built during the Qing Dynasty.

These carvings are currently the only confirmed rock carvings created under the regime of a peasant uprising army in China, possessing significant historical and artistic value.

In May 2013, the Dizishi Cliff Carvings (Dafo Temple) were listed as part of the Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units