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Bingling Buddha Caves
Bingling Thousand Buddha Caves
"Bingling" means "thousand Buddhas" or "ten-thousand Buddhas" in the Tibetan language. Being one of the very noted caves in China, it is the second to Mogao Grottoes in respect of artistic value. It is one of the best-preserved collections of Buddhist cave art in all of China. The stone sculptures in Binglingsi Grottoes represent the social situations and customs during ancient times. After the founding of People's Republic of China, the State Council designated the site as a key cultural relic, and placed it under state protection.
Binglingsi Grottoes is located on the Small Jishi Hill, about 35 kilometers (about 22 miles) south-west of Yongjing County in Lanzhou City, Gansu Province. It is a series of grottoes filled with Buddhist sculpture carved into natural caves and caverns in a canyon along the Yellow River. It lies just north of where the Yellow River empties into the Liujiaxia Reservoir created by the Liujiaxia Dam at Yongjing, about 80km from Lanzhou.
History of the cave
The caves were a work in progress for more than a millennium. The first grotto was begun around 420 at the end of the Western Jin Dynasty. Work continued and more grottoes were added during the Wei, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Most of them were carved during the Tang Dynasty.
Features of Bingling Thousand Buddha Caves
The Grottoes consist of three parts: Shangsi, Donggou, and Xiasi. Shangsi were ruined by fire and what remained are only a few statues of Buddhas. In Xiasi, there are 34 caves and 14 niches still existing.
Bingling Thousand Buddha Caves
Over the centuries, earthquakes, erosion, and looters have damaged or destroyed many of the caves and the artistic treasures within. Altogether there are 183 grotto niches displaying 694 stone figures and 82 clay figures in addition to more than 900 square meters of murals. The highest statue is 27 meters while the smallest one is only 20 centimeters. The statues are all with different postures and facial expressions. Binglingsi Grottoes is one of the ten largest Chinese grottoes.
Grotto No.169: Made in the Northern Dynasties (386 - 581), Grotto No.169 is the tallest one carved within a natural cave which is 8 meters deep, 26 meters wide and 18 meters high. It is the most imposing and delicate one which holds the clay sculptures of Kwan-yin, Dali Buddha (Dali means powerful strength in Chinese), etc. Dali Buddha has a round face, sitting with legs crossed. When we see this sculpture we will feel its expression as being very solemn. On its two sides stands Bodhisattvas with their hair bound, waving bare arms. The grotto also houses the largest mural in Binglingsi, which is still bright and beautiful in color.
Grotto No.171: Grotto No.171 houses the largest Buddhist statue, 27 meters high, with its upper body carved into the cliff and lower body made of clay. The statue seated cross-legged in meditation on a pedestal with the right hand resting on the lap and the left hand on the abdomen was sculptured in the 19th year of Dezong Reign of the Tang Dynasty.
Grotto No.125: Cave No.125, which holds the stone sculpture of Sakyamuni, is also one not to be missed.
How to go there
From Lanzhou City to Yongjing County, you can go there by expressway (around one hour). Then you can get to Binglingsi Grottoes by boat (the only way to go there and return).
When to visit
The site can only be reached by boat from Yongjing County during summer and fall. The rest of the year, the site is inaccessible because there is no road in the area.
