The Great Buddha and Cliff Carvings on Dapi Mountain

　　    The Great Buddha and Cliff Carvings on Dapi Mountain are located in the Tianning Temple courtyard and its vicinity on the eastern side of Dapi Mountain in Xunxian County, Henan Province. The cliff-carved Great Buddha was carved during the Later Zhao period of the Sixteen Kingdoms, over 1,600 years ago.

　　    The cliff-carved Great Buddha is hewn into the mountain and faces the Yellow River, standing 21.33 meters tall. It is a seated Maitreya Buddha, with its left hand resting on its knee and the right hand forming the abhaya mudra (a gesture symbolizing the removal of fear). Nearby, there are over 300 cliff carvings from various dynasties, including Northern Wei stone beasts, the Tang Dynasty "Dashan Inscription," the Thousand Buddha Cave grottoes, and Wang Yangming’s "Poem on Daren Mountain."

　　    The Great Buddha and cliff carvings largely preserve the original form of the Great Buddha from the Northern and Southern Dynasties period. They also conserve a large number of precious stone carvings, inscriptions, and grottoes from the Northern Wei to the Ming Dynasty, showcasing profound cultural significance and high historical research value. In June 2001, the Great Buddha and Cliff Carvings on Dapi Mountain were designated as part of the fifth group of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites by the State Council.

　　    Source: Xunxian County Government Official Website