Gao Ping Thousand Buddha Carving Stele

　　Thousand Buddha Carving Stele (Second Batch Provincial Protected)

　　Era: Northern Wei Dynasty

　　Address: Jianning Village, 15 km northeast of Gao Ping City

　　This stele was carved in the 20th year of the Taihe era of the Northern Wei Dynasty (496 AD), boasting a history of over 1,500 years. The stele stands 2.5 meters tall, has a trapezoidal shape, and features a semi-circular top. It is 1.08 meters wide at the base and 0.68 meters thick. All four sides of the stele are engraved with Buddha statues, totaling approximately 1,608 figures. The lower part of the front side contains a large niche housing one Buddha and two disciples. The reverse side is identical to the front, with inscriptions on both sides of the large niche. The left and right sides of the stele have the names of donors carved at the bottom, still clearly legible. The middle section features upper and lower tiers of niches, with inscriptions carved beside them. This stele is uniquely shaped, with exquisitely crafted Buddha carvings, making it a precious piece in the treasure trove of carving art. It is now severely weathered.