Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang, Henan, China
龙门石窟，中国河南洛阳

2004-05-06

walter@pratyeka.org

Images from a visit to the Longmen Grottoes to the south of the old Chinese capital Luoyang. (Henan province, China.)

Distance view of the Longmen 'gate' from the end of the shopping gauntlet. The bridge viewed from the northwest.Looking up towards the Binyang caves from the northeast. Central seated Sakyamuni and disciple, Hidden Stream Temple (Qian Xi Si; 20).Ceiling pattern, Hidden Stream Temple (Qian Xi Si; 20). Line-carved lotus between Hidden Stream Temple (Qian Xi Si; 20) and the Binyang Caves.Two carved figures outside a cave on the northern approach to the Binyang grottoes. Figure outside a cave on the northern approach to the Binyang grottoes.Figures on the northern approach to the Binyang grottoes. Interior south wall, Binyang North Cave (Binyang Bei Dong; 104).Roof and interior southern wall painting, Binyang North Cave (Binyang Bei Dong; 104). Roof and interior north wall, Binyang North Cave (Binyang Bei Dong; 104).Possibly a portion of the wall between Binyang North Cave (Binyang Bei Dong; 104) and Binyang Middle Cave (Binyang Zhong Dong; 140). Grottoes above the three main Binyang Caves.Upper portion of Vajrapani figure, just north of the entrance to Binyang Middle Cave (Binyang Zhong Dong; 140). View is south towards cave entrance. Detail of Vajrapani figure's head, just north of the entrance to Binyang Middle Cave (Binyang Zhong Dong; 140).Carvings on the southern part of the entranceway, Binyang Middle Cave (Binyang Zhong Dong; 140). Detail of the roof, upper-right portion of the back wall and upper portion of the interior north wall, Binyang Middle Cave (Binyang Zhong Dong; 140).From left to right: Sakyamuni, a disciple, a Boddhisattva, a Buddha, and another Boddhisattva. The painted and engraved roof is also visible. Binyang Middle Cave (Binyang Zhong Dong; 140). Interior view showing (from left to right) a Bodhisattva and disciple on part of the southern wall, Southern Binyang Cave (Binyang Nan Dong; 159).Smaller grottoes near Southern Binyang Cave (Binyang Nan Dong; 159). Smaller grotto near Southern Binyang Cave (Binyang Nan Dong; 159). Two flying apsaras and two other figures can be seen around the entrance.Smaller grotto near Southern Binyang Cave (Binyang Nan Dong; 159). View northward along the Binyang Caves.View of Xiangshan Temple from the Binyang Caves. Smaller grottoes near Southern Binyang Cave (Binyang Nan Dong; 159).Inscription and figures in a smaller grotto between Southern Binyang Cave (Binyang Nan Dong; 159) and Jingshan Temple Cave (Jing Shan Si; 403). Figures near Jingshan Temple Cave (Jing Shan Si; 403).Flying Apsara near Jingshan Temple Cave (Jing Shan Si; 403). Grotto between Jingshan Temple Cave (Jing Shan Si; 403) and Moya Three Buddha Niche (Mo Ya San Fo Kan; 435).Wide view, Moya Three Buddha Niche (Mo Ya San Fo Kan; 435) Small grottoes above the spring water pool, in between Moya Three Buddha Niche (Mo Ya San Fo Kan; 435) and Ten Thousand Buddha Cave (Wan Fo Dong; 543).A view of the viewing platform outside Ten Thousand Buddha Cave (Wan Fo Dong; 543). A figure visible on the approach to Ten Thousand Buddha Cave (Wan Fo Dong; 543).Main seated Buddha figure (headless) in a smaller grotto visible on the approach to Ten Thousand Buddha Cave (Wan Fo Dong; 543). Exterior view of a smaller grotto visible on the approach to Ten Thousand Buddha Cave (Wan Fo Dong; 543).Celestial guardian figure, northern side of entranceway, Ten Thousand Buddha Cave (Wan Fo Dong; 543). Interior view showing rear wall with 54 Bodhisattvas, central Amitabha in abhaya mudra seated on octagonal lotus, and (outward) a disciple, female believer and attending Bodhisattva on each side. Ten Thousand Buddha Cave (Wan Fo Dong; 543).Lotus flower in relief, roof, Ten Thousand Buddha Cave (Wan Fo Dong; 543). A celestial guardian and other carvings on the wall between the two northernmost caves under the walkway leading to Ten Thousand Buddha Cave (Wan Fo Dong; 543).Detail of celestial guardian figure on the southern part of the entranceway to the northernmost grotto under the walkway leading to Ten Thousand Buddha Cave (Wan Fo Dong; 543). View of grottoes south of Huijian Cave (Hui Jian Dong; 565). Huijian is the larger cave on the right.View of the Old Dragon's Den Cave (Lao Long Wo; 669) and Lotus Cave (Lian Hua Dong; 712) area from the north. Grottoes above the pool to the north of Old Dragon's Den Cave (Lao Long Wo; 669).Southern wall, Old Dragon's Den Cave (Lao Long Wo; 669). Interior, Lotus Cave (Lian Hua Dong; 712).Climbing up to the Grand Losana Buddha Niche (Feng Xian Si; 1280). Main and north walls, Grand Losana Buddha Niche (Feng Xian Si; 1280).Bodhisattva and disciple Ananda, southern section of main wall, Grand Losana Buddha Niche (Feng Xian Si; 1280). Southern wall, Grand Losana Buddha Niche (Feng Xian Si; 1280).Central seated Grand Vairocana Buddha, Grand Losana Buddha Niche (Feng Xian Si; 1280). Bodhisattva, corner of northern and rear walls, Grand Losana Buddha Niche (Feng Xian Si; 1280).Heavenly King and Vajrapani, north wall, Grand Losana Buddha Niche (Feng Xian Si; 1280). View looking north-west towards Mt. Longmen across the Yi River, taken from Manshui Bridge.A peasant child collecting bottles from concrete treestump bins to earn money. Taken just across Manshui bridge under Leigutai, at the foot of Xiangshan. The entrance to the Leigutai platform.Part of the stone carvings collections at the southwest corner of Leigutai. Interior with Bodhisattvas, Leigutai South Cave (Lei Gu Tai Nan Dong; 2050)Interior rear and southern walls, The Grand 10,000 Buddha Cave (Da Wan Wu Fo Dong; 2055). View north-east up 10,000 Buddha Valley (Wan Fo Gou) from Leigutai.1000 Eyed, 1000 Handed Avelokitesvara (Qian Shou Qian Yan Guan Yin; 2132), north-eastern 10,000 Buddha Valley (Wan Fo Gou), Fragrant Mountain (Xiang Shan). Heavenly King or celestial guardian figure, north-western 10,000 Buddha Valley (Wan Fo Gou).Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, Fragrant Mountain (Xiang Shan). Possibly Heavenly King or celestial guardian figure, Fragrant Mountain (Xiang Shan).Smaller grotto near the Temple for Reading Sutras (Kan Jing Si Dong; 2194). Exterior view, the Temple for Reading Sutras (Kan Jing Si Dong; 2194).Interior view, Temple for Reading Sutras (Kan Jing Si Dong; 2194). The large lotus relief on the rear wall can be seen, with some of the 29 Chan School Arhats below and flying Apsaras above. Interior view of north and rear wall,s Temple for Reading Sutras (Kan Jing Si Dong; 2194). The far left of the large lotus relief on the rear wall can be seen, with some of the 29 Chan School Arhats below and a series of smaller Buddha figures on the northern wall.Ceiling view with central lotus, Cranes and Apsaras visible, Four Crane Cave (Si Yan Dong; 2220). A view westward from the foot of Fragrant Mountain (Xiang Shan) towards Feng Xian Temple (Feng Xian Si; 1280).A view westward from the foot of Fragrant Mountain (Xiang Shan) towards Feng Xian Temple (Feng Xian Si; 1280).
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