Lingyan Temple Cliff Carvings

　　The site consists of two caves connected by the Bridge of No Return. There are approximately 120 stone tablets and cliff inscriptions preserved here, earning it the nickname "Little Forest of Stone Tablets." Among the famous inscriptions are the “Hegui Song” stele from the fifth year of the Jianning era of the Eastern Han Dynasty (172 AD), the recarved “Hegui Song” from the third year of the Shaoding era of the Song Dynasty (1230 AD), the “Lingya Farewell Record” from the 11th year of the Jiading era of the Song Dynasty (1218 AD), the “Kai Cheng Inscription” from the second year of the Kaicheng era of the Tang Dynasty (837 AD), and the “He Moude Teaching Stele” composed by Quan Deyu of the Tang Dynasty.

　　Located by the Jialing River in the southeast of Lueyang County, Hanzhong, Shaanxi, the site has long been celebrated as the “Spiritual Caverns of Lingya.” According to inscriptions in the caves and the records in the “Jia Lueyang County Annals” of the Ming Dynasty, Lingya Temple was built during the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty. It is renowned for its two naturally formed large caves, which have attracted scholars and poets throughout history. Both the great Tang poet Du Fu and Su Shi, one of the Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties, once cruised along the Jialing River to visit Lingya. With over 130 cliff inscriptions, including the Han Dynasty clerical script “Fuge Song,” the site is hailed as a “Little Forest of Stone Tablets” and serves as a natural treasure trove for the study of calligraphy and history. Notable cliff carvings include the Eastern Han Dynasty “Nange Song,” the Kai Cheng Inscription of the Tang Dynasty, the Lingya Farewell Record, the Song Dynasty Emperor Zhezong’s imperial inscription “Loyal, Pure, and Virtuous Stele,” China’s earliest known traffic regulation — the ancient “Yizhi Ling” decree, Du Fu’s poetry carvings, the “White Bone Pagoda Preface” stele, and Song Dynasty cliff carvings from the Lingya period (25 pieces), among others.

　　The entrance of the front cave of Lingya Temple is about 25 meters high, over 50 meters wide, and around 100 meters deep. A riverside pavilion, the Wangjiang Tower, stands atop the cliffs at the cave entrance. Between the two caves lies a spring that flows westward into the Jialing River.

　　The Jade Pillar, located next to the Sleeping Buddha in the rear cave, is a naturally formed stalagmite column standing upright as if supporting the entire cavern. The “Mo Nai He” (No Way Out) is next to the Flying Rock in the front cave—a bizarrely shaped object made of cast iron, spiraling to a pointed top. It has five tiers, each converging upwards to form a rounded apex. It is 32 centimeters tall, with a base circumference of 104 centimeters, and weighs about 75 kilograms.

　　The Thousand-Year Sleeping Buddha, situated beside the Jade Pillar in the rear cave, is a plump, serene, and naturally formed stalagmite Buddha in a reclining position. This lifelike stalagmite figure wears a monk’s robe, has closed enlightened eyes, an exposed chest and belly, and lies on its side barefoot.

　　In 2006, the Lingyan Temple Cliff Carvings were included in the sixth batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level by the State Council.