Western Grottoes

Western Grottoes

The Western Grottoes are a cultural tourism attraction.

The Western Grottoes are located in Xikang Village on Fenggu Mountain, about 2 kilometers west of Bazhong City. There are more than 90 niches of statues preserved, distributed across three sites: Longri Temple, Liubei Pool, and Fayewan. Among the grottoes still extant in Bazhong, these boast the richest content. Fayewan is situated at the foot of the mountain and is also known as the Western Grottoes Temple. The existing niches are densely clustered on a north–south facing cliff face, numbering over 50. The contents include statues of Shakyamuni Buddha, Maitreya Buddha, Bodhi Rui Image, Seven Buddhas, Shakyamuni and Prabhutaratna Sitting Together, Shakyamuni and Maitreya Sitting Together, Amitabha Buddha with Fifty Bodhisattvas, Guanyin Bodhisattva, Shakyamuni and Laozi Sitting Together, as well as stupas and inscribed stone tablets. The vast majority of the niches were carved during the flourishing Tang Dynasty, among which niche No. 10 features an inscription from the third year of the Kaiyuan era (AD 715). Not far from niche No. 10, niche No. 21 bears an inscription from the Five Dynasties period that reads: “Discovered: the ancient statue created in the fifth year of the Daye era of the Great Sui.” The statue inside niche No. 21 depicts Shakyamuni preaching, with the Heavenly Kings and Vajrapanis on either side being particularly eye-catching. The Vajrapani wears a necklace of precious beads, a long skirt, and has a slender body. Its attire and decoration differ from those of Vajrapanis found elsewhere in Bazhong from the Tang Dynasty. The Heavenly King wears armor, long boots, and a sword, and stands above an earth demon in a relaxed pose, which is also different from usual depictions. On the ceiling are four flying apsaras and over ten celestial musicians on the niche lintel, dancing amid the falling flowers and swirling clouds. Thunder God and Lightning Goddess also make appearances. Earlier scholars, based on the inscriptions near the niches, believed that niche No. 21 was carved during the Sui Dynasty, leading to the conclusion that the cliff carvings at the Western Grottoes Temple originated in the Sui period. However, recent investigations have discovered large niches on the cliff face that predate the early Kaiyuan era. Considering certain features of niches No. 18 and No. 21, we believe the niches at Fayewan in the Western Grottoes may date back to the Sui Dynasty, with a latest possible time no later than the early Tang Dynasty. Liubei Pool is located midway up the mountain and currently preserves two damaged niches as well as some damaged steles and stupas. Niche No. 53 originally contained carvings depicting the Western Pure Land, though the actual statues have now weathered away. However, the exquisite octagonal canopy on the ceiling and the celestial palaces reflecting the Pure Land world on both sides are well preserved. These two Tang Dynasty–carved imitation buildings are each 2 meters high, with three levels, square steps, corner brackets, and hollow carvings. Statues of offering bodhisattvas, celestial beings, and musicians are carved on the buildings. The various musical instruments held by the musicians provide important data for the study of music history, while these rare architectural forms are treasured specimens of Tang Dynasty architecture highly valued by architectural historians. Longri Temple is located at the top of the mountain. More than 30 statues are preserved here, mostly carved in the early to flourishing Tang Dynasty, including depictions of Shakyamuni, Bodhi Rui Image, Seven Buddhas, Thousand Buddhas, Guanyin, Bodhi Rui Image with Maitreya Buddha Sitting Together, and others.

The carving art of the statues at the Western Grottoes is refined in technique and richly diverse. The garments and decorations of bodhisattvas and celestial deities are luxurious, with neat and intricate patterns.