Pujian Grottoes

Pujian Grottoes

The Pujian Grottoes are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Pujian Grottoes are located on the cliffs of Chaoyang Lake, about 10 kilometers southwest of Pujiang County in Sichuan Province, and in Puyan Village, Heshan Town. The grottoes include 68 niches from the Tang Dynasty, 1 from the Five Dynasties, 7 from the Song Dynasty, 1 from the Ming Dynasty, and 10 from the Qing Dynasty.

On the cliffs of Chaoyang Lake, about 10 kilometers southwest of Pujiang County in Sichuan Province, and in Puyan Village, Heshan Town, the Feixian Pavilion cliff carvings and the Pujian Grottoes—also known as the Erlangtan Cliff Carvings—feature cliffside grottoes and carvings stretching approximately 200 meters along the rock face. A total of 87 niches with over 550 statues remain, including Buddhas, bodhisattvas, heavenly kings, guardian warriors, vajras, yakshas, and flying apsaras.

Feixian Pavilion Cliff Carvings

The Feixian Pavilion Cliff Carvings are located on the cliffs on both sides of Erlangtan in Chaoyanghu Town, about 10 kilometers southwest of Pujiang County, totaling 92 niches with 777 statues. Of these, 87 niches are on the north bank and 5 on the south bank. The earliest carvings date back to the first year of the Yongchang era of the Tang Dynasty (689 AD), with 64 niches and 491 statues from the Tang Dynasty. Notable works include the Rui Xiang niche from 689 AD, as well as statues of Shakyamuni, the Three Ages of Buddha, Huayan Three Saints, Maitreya, Guanyin, Thousand-Armed Guanyin, Cintamanicakra Guanyin, Ksitigarbha, the Eight Divisions of Heavenly Guardians, and foreign-looking heavenly kings. From the Five Dynasties, there are 17 niches and 256 statues, including one Buddha with six bodhisattvas and Western Pure Land transformation scenes. The Qing Dynasty contributed 11 niches and 30 statues, such as the South Sea Guanyin and Hariti. Most niches are rectangular, with the largest statue being the 6-meter-tall Tang Dynasty Maitreya in niche 8 of Dafoping.

The Feixian Pavilion Cliff Carvings are distributed along the ancient Southern Silk Road and mainly date from the Tang Dynasty. The statues vary in form, with vivid and lifelike imagery. The diverse subjects hold significant historical, artistic, and scientific value. In particular, the Rui Xiang niche is the earliest surviving bodhi rui xiang (auspicious Buddha image) in Sichuan Province.

Longtuowan Cliff Carvings

The Longtuowan Cliff Carvings are located in Puyan Village, Heshan Town, Pujiang County, on Ancient Buddha Mountain. They are mainly distributed across four adjacent sites: Longtuowan, Anziyan, Tudi Zui, and Shimayan. Longtuowan is on the western foothills of Ancient Buddha Mountain and features 10 niches and 80 statues from the Northern and Southern Dynasties to the Tang and Song Dynasties. Highlights include a stone inscription from the first year of the Jiājìng era of the Western Liang (417 AD), as well as Tang Dynasty statues of Guanyin and Shakyamuni, and Song Dynasty statues of Shakyamuni.

Anziyan is on the eastern foothills of Ancient Buddha Mountain, with 3 niches and 34 statues from the Ming Dynasty, depicting the Western Three Saints. Inscriptions from the Ming Chenghua and Jiajing eras are also present.

The Tudi Zui carvings are located 500 meters northeast of Anziyan, featuring 13 niches and 263 Tang Dynasty statues. These include thousand Buddhas, Maitreya, Shakyamuni, and inscriptions from the Tang Tianbao era.

The Shimayan carvings are located 1,000 meters east of Anziyan, with a total of 9 niches and 91 statues. Of these, 5 niches and 81 statues are from the Tang Dynasty, including thousand Buddhas and Shakyamuni, with inscriptions from the Tang Huichang, Dazhong, Xiantong, and Dashun eras. There are also 4 niches and 10 statues from the Qing Dynasty, featuring the main deities Ox-King Bodhisattva, Hariti, and Erlang Shen.

The Longtuowan Cliff Carvings span various dynasties from the Northern and Southern Dynasties to the Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing, showcasing significant historical, religious, and artistic value.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units