Atlas
Yungang Grottoes
The Yungang Grottoes — colossal Buddha statues carved in stone by the Northern Wei Xianbei, a grand fusion of Indian, Persian, and Chinese artistry, a stone monument legitimizing nomadic rule through Buddhist authority.
Prefecture: Datong
Province: ShanxiA large niche is cut into a steep rock face, holding a huge seated stone Buddha with a standing figure at its right, and a few dry shrubs on the cliff top.
Sculpture3
- Yungang Grottoes Cave 20 Colossal Buddha
At 13.7 metres, this Northern Wei Buddha with full face and broad shoulders marks a peak of early Yungang carving, blending Gandharan, Greek and Xianbei influences.
- Yungang Caves 5 & 6 (Colossal Buddha & Reliefs)
Twin caves holding Yungang's largest seated Buddha, some seventeen metres tall, are covered with reliefs telling the Buddha's life from birth to enlightenment.
- Tanyao Five Caves (Caves 16-20) in Yungang
Commissioned in the Heping era of Emperor Wencheng and carved under the monk Tanyao, these five huge domed caves represent five Northern Wei emperors from Daowu to Wencheng.
Civic Building1
- Yungang Grottoes Museum of Buddhist Art
Exhibits cover architectural pieces from the Northern Wei capital Pingcheng, artifacts from cave excavations and high-precision 3D digital reconstructions of the caves.
In its history3
- Tan Yao405–475 CE
Part of Yungang Grottoes's history: Yungang Monumental Grottoes. Eminent Northern Wei Buddhist master who supervised the creation of the Yungang Grottoes and the monumental Tan Yao Five Caves.
- Emperor Wencheng of Northern Wei (Tuoba Jun)440–465 CE
Part of Yungang Grottoes's history: Yungang Monumental Grottoes. Fifth emperor of Northern Wei who reversed the persecution of Buddhism and sanctioned the excavation of the Yungang Grottoes.
- Tuoba Dao408–452 CE
Part of Yungang Grottoes's history: Yungang Monumental Grottoes. Northern Wei emperor who conquered the Xia, Northern Yan and Northern Liang to unify the north, suppressed Buddhism in 446, executed Cui Hao, and was murdered by a eunuch
Northern and Southern3
- Yungang Monumental Grottoes
Imperial carving of the Tanyao Five Caves, inaugurating the flourishing era of Buddhist rock-cut architecture.
- Tianlongshan Caves Carved in Taiyuan460 CE
In 460 CE, Emperor Wencheng commissioned Tanyao to direct the carving of Caves 16–20 at Wuzhou Mountain, beginning the Yungang complex.
- Carving the Yungang Cave 20 Buddhac. 460–470 CE
Cave 20, part of Yungang's early cave group, contains an open-air seated Buddha about 14 metres high; its date is placed approximately in 460–470.
Modern Era2
- Later World Heritage Listings
In 1994 the Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains was inscribed on the World Heritage List; the Classical Gardens of Suzhou, the Yungang Grottoes, Quanzhou and others followed, and in 2023 the Jingmai Mountain old tea forest landscape was inscribed.
- Yungang Grottoes Inscribed on UNESCO List2001 CE
In 2001, the Yungang Grottoes were inscribed for Northern Wei Buddhist cave art and the fusion of South and Central Asian influences with Chinese traditions.
