Yungang Grottoes — Localization and Secularization of Buddhist Cave Art
The Yungang Grottoes, or Yungang Caves, built from 460 to 524, are exceptional Buddhist caves that present the localization and secularization of Buddhist arts in China.
As a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, the statues, reliefs, murals, buildings, and other artistic elements of the Yungang Grottoes hold great religious, aesthetic, historical, and cultural values.
Yungang Grottoes or Yungang Caves in Datong of Shanxi Province, Photo by Zhang Wei.
Yungang Grottoes Facts and Important Data
Cultural Aspects Present in the Art of Yungang Grottoes
Buddhist Statues and Reliefs in Cave of the Yungang, Photo by Dongmaiying.
History of Yungang Grottoes
In 452, Emperor Wencheng of the Northern Wei Dynasty ascended the throne and revived Buddhism, which suffered havoc from his grandfather Emperor Taiwu's Persecution of Buddhism.
A respected monk named Tan Yao proposed that the emperors were incarnations of Buddhas in the secular world, which gained Emperor Wencheng's support to construct Buddhist Grottoes in Datong, the capital city of the Northern Wei Dynasty.
From 460 to 465, Tan Yao built five caves, whose five giant Buddhas represent five emperors of the Northern Wei.
One of the Five Caves Constructed by Tan Yao, Now the 20th Cave of Yungang
After Emperor Wencheng passed away in 465, his queen, Empress Dowager Feng, and his grandson, Emperor Xiaowen, reigned the empire in succession.
As royal-supported caves, Yungang Grottoes reflect the history of the empire and the wills of the sovereigns.
Hence, its construction peaked during Feng and Xiaowen's ruling period and Sinicized because of their Sinicization reforms.
Exquisite Pagoda Column of the 6th Cave Built During this Period, Photo from Official Site of Yungang.
In 493, Emperor Xiaowen migrated his capital southward to Luoyang to consolidate his reign, enlarge territory, and prepare to annex wars against southern kingdoms.
In the same year, the emperor started constructing imperial Buddhist caves in Luoyang city, where he commanded the building of the first cave of the Longmen Grottoes to pray for the departed Empress Dowager Feng.
As for Yungang, after the royals left the city, more caves were constructed under the support of lower-ranked nobles, officials, and civilians, which are much smaller.
Smaller Statues of the 39th Cave Built During the Late Period, Photo from the Official Site.
The grottoes' construction in Yungang stopped in 524 when a large-scale rebellion erupted around this area and caused huge chaos.
Ten years later, the Northern Wei Dynasty (386 —534) ended.
Afterward, Yungang Grottoes suffered destruction and were restored several times until they were put under national protection in 1952 and listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage in 2001.
Protective Buildings Constructed in 1651 in front of Caves 5, 6, and 7, Photo by Aries.
Yungang Grottoes Facts and Important Data
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It is located in Datong of Shanxi Province.
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It includes 252 caves and niches, with over 18,000 square meters of carved areas.
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There are over 51,000 Buddhist statues, varying from 17 meters to 2 centimeters tall.
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From over half a century of construction, the Buddhist art of Yungang Grottoes shows clear transitions from Western to Chinese Han culture style.
Smiling Buddha of Yungang Grottoes
Cultural Aspects Present in the Art of Yungang Grottoes
As an exceptional Buddhist wonder constructed with the support of the royals of Northern Wei, the artworks of the Yungang Caves depict various cultural aspects of the empire during the 5th and 6th centuries.
Musical Instruments in the 12th Cave, Photo from Official Site of Yungang.
Dances and Costumes
Architectural Pillars of the Wuhua Cave, Photo from Official Site.
Costumes and Artistic Decorations, Photo by Dongmaiying.
Destruction and Protection of Yungang Grottoes
Besides natural weathering, human activity also caused destruction to the grottoes, including those stolen in the early 20th century.
Nowadays, more modern technologies are used to preserve, restore, and display the Yungang Grottoes, including copied caves, digital websites, movies, theaters, performances, videos, etc.
Buddha Statue in the 5th Cave, Photo from Official Site of Yungang.
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