Yungang Grottoes (V) Cave 6 – Shakyamuni Buddha Cave

Yungang Grottoes (V) Cave 6 – Shakyamuni Buddha Cave

Yungang Grottoes (V) Cave 6 – Shakyamuni Buddha Cave is a cultural tourism attraction.

Caves 5 and 6 form a pair of grottoes located in the central section of the Yungang Grottoes.

The caves consist of front and rear chambers. The main image on the north wall of the rear chamber is the Buddhas of the Three Ages, with the central seated statue standing 17 meters tall — the largest Buddha statue in the Yungang Grottoes. The cave walls are covered with niches and Buddha statues. On either side of the arched doorway are carvings of two Buddhas sitting opposite each other atop a bodhi tree, with flying apsaras in relief at the top, featuring graceful lines. In front of the two caves, there is a five-bay, four-story pavilion. The existing structure was rebuilt in the eighth year of the Shunzhi era of the early Qing Dynasty (1651 AD). Cave 6 has a nearly square floor plan, with a two-story square pagoda pillar in the center connecting to the cave ceiling, standing about 15 meters high. The lower part of the pagoda pillar features large niches on each of its four sides: the southern side depicts a seated Buddha, the western side a reclining Buddha, the northern side a facing pair of Shakyamuni and Prabhutaratna, and the eastern side a cross-legged Maitreya. The large niches on all four sides of the pagoda pillar, as well as the eastern, southern, and western cave walls and the areas around the light windows, are adorned with 33 relief carvings depicting the life story of Shakyamuni from birth to enlightenment. This cave is grand in scale, richly decorated, and exquisitely crafted, making it one of the most representative caves in the Yungang Grottoes.

Shakyamuni Buddha Cave (Cave 6) (471–494 AD)

This cave is a central-pillar cave, also known as a chaitya. Its richly decorated pagoda shrine is hailed as the “Foremost Wonder of Yungang” and is considered a miracle in the history of world sculpture. The central square pagoda pillar inside the cave is divided into upper and lower sections, standing 15 meters tall. The upper section features a standing Buddha and two bodhisattvas on each of its four sides, with elephants carved at the corners supporting nine-tiered, pavilion-style square towers. The lower section has seated Buddha statues in niches on each side. The upper tier of the cave’s four walls is lined with 11 standing Buddha statues, each beneath a canopy, exuding majesty. The grid-like sections of the cave ceiling depict multi-armed, multi-headed celestial beings riding various animals. There are over 30 extant relief carvings in the cave illustrating the life story of Shakyamuni, focusing on iconic moments from his birth to renunciation. These carvings are logically structured and simply executed, representing new creations influenced by Gandhara art that spread eastward — truly precious artifacts.

The cave walls are almost entirely covered in sculptures. Though over a thousand years of weathering have caused many sculptures to erode, fade, or lose color, they still display remarkable beauty and grandeur, inspiring awe and admiration for their exquisite craftsmanship.

Caves 5 and 6 are a pair of grottoes. In front of them stands a five-bay, four-story wooden pavilion built in the eighth year of the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (1651), with a glazed tile roof. According to a guide, the thinnest part of the wall between the two caves is only 2 centimeters thick. The pavilion is solemn and majestic in design. At the time, Cave 5 was under renovation and not open to the public, so I didn’t get to see the Yungang Grottoes’ tallest statue — the 17-meter-high “No. 1 Buddha of Yungang.” It was a great pity.

Suggested Duration

1 hour

Transportation

Located within the Yungang Grottoes; walking is recommended

Admission

Included in the Yungang Grottoes ticket