Longmen Grottoes

Overview

The Longmen Grottoes are a spectacular complex of Buddhist cave art carved into the limestone cliffs of the Yi River valley. Over 100,000 statues in 2,345 caves were created over 400 years, representing the pinnacle of Chinese Buddhist sculpture.

Cave Art

Begun in 493 CE when the Northern Wei Dynasty moved its capital to Luoyang, the Longmen Grottoes contain over 100,000 Buddhist statues ranging from tiny 1-inch carvings to the monumental 17-meter Vairocana Buddha.

The Vairocana Buddha, carved during the Tang Dynasty, is said to have been modeled on Empress Wu Zetian. Its serene smile and graceful proportions represent the golden age of Chinese Buddhist art.