Dazu Rock Carvings 大足石刻

In scribed by UNESCO on the list as one of the World Cultural Heritages in December 1999, Dazu (“Great Plenty” or more mundanely as “Big Foot”) Rock Carvings lie 163 kilometers away from Chongqing Municipality, which was established in March 1997. The carvings started in 892 and completed by the end of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) lasting more than 250 years. They are the excellent works of rock carvings produced during the later period of grotto arts in China.

More than 50,000 pieces of carved rock figures are scattered 75 major sites in the 1,390-aquare-kilometre county. Those carved out of the rocks at Beishan (North Hill), the Baodingshan (Precious Peak Hill) and Nanshan (South Hill) are the most concentrated in number, the largest in scale, the finest in craftsmanship and the richest in contents. In 1961, they appeared on the list of the first group of important cultural relics under the state protection as announced by the State Council.

Dazu Rock Carvings are in no way less important than other big-name Chinese grottoes such as Dunhuang, Yungang and Longmen in Northern China.

The Dazu Rock Carvings, mainly consisting of Buddhist images, are the commented as the “Oriental Carved Bible.” However, there are also separate areas of Confucian and Taoist images, and caves in which the founders of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism are placed together. Besides, there are statues of a commemorative nature of historical personages. What makes Dazu rock carvings unique is the large amount of statues, the refined carving techniques, the diversified subjects, the rich content and the excellent conservation.

Cliffside Carvings at Beishan (North Hill) 北山摩崖造像

Fowan, on the top of Beishanm, is only two kilometers away from Dazu County (population 950,000) seat. Arranged in order of 290 numbers, there are 264 caves and niches of images, 6 inscriptions, 55 descriptive notes and accounts about the making of the images, 8 pillars inscribed with Buddhist scriptures and one picture carved in Intaglio. Most of the images are the statues of Avalokitesvara Bodhisttva (Guanyin) 观音, Ksitigarbha Bodhisttva (Dizang) 地藏, and Amitabha (Amida Buddha ) 阿弥陀佛. It is acclaimed as “a gallery of Chinese Avalokitesvaras” because of the numerous, stylistic statues of Avalokitesvara.

Situated in the southern section of Fowan, the figures were generally carved in the period 892 to 960, while those in the northern section were mainly chiseled in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). These works are characterized with rotund and stately appearance, unsophisticated disposition and simple garments. The carvings in the middle sections are most attractive. For instance, the figures in Cave 136 have the features of well-proportioned bodies, exquisitely luxurious garments and distinct characters. Manjusri, a well-learned and eloquent Boddhisattva was carved into a vigorous figure, sitting on a roaring lion, with a tint of self-conceit. As a match for Manjusri, Samantabhadra was carved as a female Boddhisattva. It possesses the beautiful and healthy features peculiar to oriental females, so it is often called “Venus of the East.”

The one in Niche 125 popularly known as “Charming Guanyin (Avalokitesvara)” 数珠观音 （亦称媚态观音），claims to be the crown of the carvings at Beishan (North Hill), and another statue of Avalokitesvara in Niche 113 is also a masterpiece.

In carving Mayurasana-raja in Cave 155, the Chinese ancient artisans inherited the earlier column-grotto technique and chiseled the major image at the centre of the cave, making it serve as a pillar to support the rock ceiling on top. Their bold touch made Ksitigarbha in Cave 177 another attraction with unique style.

The pagoda standing on top of the hill opposite Fowan is a unique architecture with 12 eaves outside and 7 floors inside. It was built during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). On the walls of the 33-metre-high pagoda, about one hundred stone reliefs were embedded. Entering the south door and going upstairs, tourists can get to the top of the pagoda.

Cliffside Carvings at Baidingshan (Treasure Peak Hill) 宝顶山摩崖造像

Situated 15 kilometers away from northeast of Dazu, Baodingshan is famous for its comprise of more than 10,000 magnificent sculptures, which were created under the direction of a sistinguished local, Buddhist monk Zhao Zhifeng 赵智凤 in the period 1174 to 1252 in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). They have a history of over 800 years. Those located in Dafowan 大佛湾 are best preserved and most numerous. Besides, there 7 inscriptions descrbing the origin of the carvings at Baodingshan and the historical records of Buddhism,,17 descriptive notes and 2 Sarira pagodas. The carvings in Dafowan depict almost every story recorded in Buddhist scriptures. The skilled carving workmanship and beautiful artistic style create life-like human images with various expressions. The carvings are patterned in accordance with the terrain of the hills, resulting in natural, magnificent structure. The well-designed groups of 19 grand reliefs cover a wide scope of artistic themes, and most of them are coloured with secular tints.

The major reliefs in Dafowan include : “Temple Guardians 护法神像” “Picture of Transmigration in Six Ways六道轮回,” “Pavilion of Extensive Treasures广大宝楼阁,” “Three Saints of the Avatamsaka School华严三圣像,” “Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva with Thousand Arms or Thousand-Armed Guanyin千手观音”(a statue of Avalokitesvara seated on a lotus flower, her 1,007 hands spread out over 88 square meters of rock. An unusual feature here is the carving of scenes from everyday life executed with tender vividness.), “Sakyamuni Entering Nirvana释迦耶磐圣迹图,” “ A Story from the Mayurasanasutra孔雀明王经变像,” “A Story from the Scripture on the Kindness of Parents父母恩重经变像,” “The Voice of Cloud and Thundering云雷音图” “A Story from the Scripture on Nahopaya Buddha’s Requital of Kindness大方便佛报恩经变像” “A Story from the Amitayus-Buddhadyana-sutra观音无量寿佛经变像” “A Picture of the Six Animals六耗图” “A Scene of the Hell地狱变像” “Master Liu’s Religious Centre柳本尊行化道场” “Image of the Ten Great Vidyarajas十大明王像” “The Cave of Hull Enlightenment圆觉洞” and “The Cowherd’s Pasture land牧牛道场.”The images associated with inscribed Buddhist texts and eulogistic expressions look very much like an ancient picture-story book with ample explanations. Dafowan is the only place among groups of sculptures where this technique of expression is employed. The images such as the patents and children in the “Story from the Scripture on the Kindness of Parents”, the flute girl in the “Sutra on Mahopaya Buddha Requiting the Kindness of His Parents” and the hen wife 养鸡女 in the “Scene of the Hell ” depict a vivid picture of the people in the Song Dynasty.

The carvings in Dafowan are full of imaginations. To show the greatness of Sakyamuni Buddha, founder of Buddhism, only the upper part of the body was chiseled and thus left plenty room to people for the imagination of the lower part. The breathtaking Thousand-arm Avalokitesvara Bodhisttva is really a manmade wonder. The 3-meter high figure with 1,007 arms stretching out like a peacock’s tail covers an area of 88 square meters.

Dafowan is a U-shaped range of hills about 15 to 30 meters high and some 500 meters long. The statues carved on the eastern, southern and northern cliff-sides of the valley are arranged in 31 serial numbers.

In other sites such as Nanshan and Shizhuangshan of Dazu County, there are statues that integrate Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism, representing the interplay among different religions in China during the Song Dynasty. Previous grotto art in China seldom touched on Taoism and Confucianism. But here, Confucius (551-479 BC), Lao-tse or Lao Zi (c.604-531 BC) and the Buddha are even built together in the same niche, which is rare. That indicates the inclusive nature and powerful vitality of Chinese culture. The best way to experience the grandeur and beauty of Dazu rock carvings is to visit them on the spot.

On June 22, 2000, the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO presented Dazu the title of “World Heritage Site” at a ceremony in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Dazu used to be a prosperous county in the early Tang Dynasty. As Buddhism grew throughout Chima, people showed their faith through stone carvings. Even as constant warfare weakened Northern China after the Tang Dynasty (618-907), stone carving was able to continue in the Dazu area. With the support from local affluent families, temples and religious devotees, artisans continued working in Dazu until the late Qing Dynasty with the work peaking during the Song Dynasty.

The Dazu Rock Carvings in the steep hillsides of Dazu County contain an exceptional number of rock carvings dating from the 9th to 13th centuries. Material released by UNESCO’s Beijing Office said that the rock carvings “are remarkable for their high aesthetic qualities, their rich diversity of subject matters, both secular and religious, and provide a glimpse into the life of China during this period.”

More than 50,000 stone sculptures have so far been discovered in 75 sites in mountainous Dazu County. They are primarily sculptures reflecting themes from Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism.

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