Adventure in Luoyang Part V - Longmen Cave

An invaluable Unesco World Heritage site, the ravaged grottoes at Longmen constitute one of China’s few surviving masterpieces of Buddhist rock carving. Longmen Cave (Dragon Gate Grottoes, Longmen Shiku), an outstanding collection of religious statuary was started by the Buddhist Northern Wei rulers (386 – 534AD) after they moved their capital from Datong to Luoyang in 494AD. The ensuing Sui and Tang Dynasties further added to the grottoes especially during the rule of Tang Dynasty Empress Wu Zetian, before anti-Buddhist purges abruptly halted its development. The tragic number of headless statues as a result of vandalism and theft creates a solemn mood, although today the caves are obviously well cared for.

Over the next 200 years or so, around 2000 caves or niches over more than 100,000 images and statutes or Buddha and his disciples emerged from over a kilometers of limestone cliff wall along the western bank of the Yi River (Yi He).

The well-preserved Lotus Flower Cave was built in AD527 and is important as it was built as a complete entity and not added to over the years. It derives its name from the large lotus flower in the center of its domed roof, surrounded by musical water spirits – apsarases. The Ten Thousand Buddha Cave is a typical Tang Dynasty cave built in AD680. The many figures of Buddha create an overwhelming sense of the presence of the great teacher.

In the early 20th century, many statues were beheaded by unscrupulous collectors or simply extracted whole, many ending up abroad. Also removed were two murals that today hang in the Metropolitan Museum Art in New York and the Atkinson Museum in Kansas City. Some effigies are slowly returning and heads are being slowly restored to their severed necks, but other statues have had their faces crudely smashed off, deliberate defacement that dates to the dark days of the Cultural Revolution (the Ten Thousand Buddha Cave was particularly damaged during this period).

(Source: Lonely Planet - China, DK and other various sources)

Note on the picture:
(1) Vairocana Buddha. Over 56 ft (17m) tall, this is collosal statue's face was reputedly modeled after the empress We Zetion. The statue's enigmatic smile has earned it the nickname the "Eastern Monalisa"
(2) Area before entering Longmen Cave with Yi He Bridge

(3) Entrance gate of Longmen Cave

(4) Another gate near the ticket office
(5) Statue of Buddha in one cave
(6) Small cave
(7) Statue of Buddha in one cave

(8) Statue of Buddha in one cave

(9) Binyang San Dong caves took 24 years to build and were completed in 523AD

(10) The well preserved Lotus Flower Cave was built in 527AD and is important as it was built as a complete entity, and not added to over the years. It derives its name from the large lotus flower in the center of its domed roof, surrounded by musical spirit - apsarases
(11) Statue of Guan Yin Pousat
(12) Small caves
(13) Fengxian Si. This cave, on the western bank, is largest of all the caves and dates back to 675AD. See Note (1). The statue on the second from right represents Heavenly King. Holding a votive pagoda in one hand and crushing a demon under his feet, the sculpture of Heavenly King is remarkable for its sense of movement and realistic posture
(14) Longmen Cave from the Yi He river

Adventure in Luoyang Part IV - Xiangshan Temple and Bai Juyi's Tomb at Longmen Cave

The best scenery around the suburbs of Luoyang is found in Longmen Grottoes. Among the ten temples, Xiangshan Temple ranks first for sightseeing. Xiangshan Temple started to be constructed in Northern Wei Dynasty. Xiangshan Temple is located in the Fragrant Hill area of Luoyang, which was famous for the abundance of xiangge (a kind of fragrant plant). Empress Wu Zetian had an eternal anecdote recited on her gandily dress on Fragrant Hill. Qianlong, the six emperor of Qing Dynasty once made an inspection tour here (1750AD) and off the cut off recited a poem which was engraved on the stele. Jiang Jieshi, the president of Guomintang with his wife, Song Meiling, once choose the temple as summer resort. Now Xiangshan Temple has been renovated. It comprises the Campanile, the Drum Tower, the Hall of Great Buddha, the Hall of Arahat, the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Stone Tower, Jiang-song Villa, the Qianlong Stele Pavilion, the Legacy Tower, the Lotus Pond, the Lotus Pond, the Pond of Freeing Captive Animals, etc. This Buddhist Temple is very elegant and delicate and it will bring people relaxation and happiness.

Bai Juyi's Tomb inscribed on World Heritage of Bai Juyi, a famous poet of Tang Dynasty.

Note on the pictures:

(1) Xianshan Temple sighted from Longmen Cave

(2) Campanile

(3) Sighting of Longmen Cave from Xiangshan Temple

(4) Sighting of Luoyang Bridge from Xiangshan Temple

(5) Jiang-song Villa

(6) Statue of Bai Juyi

(7) Scenery at Bai Juyi's Tomb

(8) Fish in the pond of Bai Kuyi's Tomb

Adventure in Luoyang Part III - Guanlin

Luoyang Guanlin is China’s only well preserved group of ancient buildings that functions both as a temple and a tomb (of nobility and noble men alike), the burial place of the legendary general Guan Yu of the Three Kingdoms period (220 – 265AD). It goes back to 1,700 years ago, when Caocao held a ceremonious burial of Guan Yu in January 219AD, the year before the collapse of Han Dynasty.

The temple buildings were built during the Ming dynasty and Guan Yu was issued the posthumous title “Lord of War” in the early Qing dynasty. The buildings are ornately decorated, and stone lionesses line the path to the main hall housing an impressive statue of Guan Yu.

Guanlin has undergone numerous constructions and restorations, yet the original tomb remained intact. Guanlin is a sacred place for worshipping Guan Yu.

(Source: Lonely Planet, DK and other various sources)

Note on the pictures:

(1) Guanlin temple - in front

(2) Guanlin temple - the main temple

(3) Building in the temple

Adventure in Luoyang Part II - Baima Si (White Horse Temple)

Founded in the 68AD, Baima Si is traditionally considered the first Buddhist temple built on Chinese soil, although the original structures have largely been replaced.

After two Han dynasty court emissaries went in search of Buddhist scriptures, they encountered two Indian monks (Kasyapa-Matanga and Dharmaratna) in Afghanistan who returned together on two white horses to Luoyang carrying Buddhist sutras and statues. The impressed emperor, Han Ming, built in the temple to house the monks; it also their resting place. Baima Si remains active, with a constant stream of worshipers.

(Source: Lonely Planet - China, DK and other sources)

Note on the pictures:
(1) Baima Si - the gate
(2) The white horse statue
(3) The temple yard I
(4) The temple yard II with another white horse

Adventure in Luoyang Part I - Yongtai Temple

Yongtai Temple sits at the western base of Taishi Mountain, about seven miles northwest from Dengfeng. Yongtai Temple, built in 521AD during the Northern Wei (Beiwei) Dynasty, is the first Buddist nunnery since the introduction of Zen Buddism. It was destroyed completely during in 573AD but was rebuilt during the Sui Dynasty (589-618AD) and extensively renovated during the Ming and Qing eras. Together with Shaolin Temple as the home of monks, it has got the name of the homes of nuns of the Zen Buddhism. The ancient buildings existed now include Mount Gate, King's Hall, Zhong Fuo Temple, Main Palace, Huang Gu Building, Qie Lan Hall, Liu Zu Hall, etc. There are also plenty of cultural relic and historic sites such as the ancient tower, stele, stone carving, rare trees of Poluo as well as ancient aspens.

(Source: Lonely Planet - China, DK and other various sources)

Note on the pictures:

(1) Yontai Temple - Front
(2) Poluo Tree >1,500 years old
(3) Inside Temple

Luoyang, A Brief History

After spending the week preparing the report and presentation for training, herecome the weekend. This weekend I went to Luoyang for sightseeing. I went to Luoyang with Qifeng, SC's staff, by train which took 8 hours. The below is a little bit history about Luoyang and Dengfeng.

Luoyang’s industrial face conveys little of its impressive history. The city was the site of the ancient Zhao court, where the sage Laozi was keeper of the archives. IT was also the site of China’s first university in 29 BC, and was capital to 13 dynasties from Neolithic times till AD 937.
Luoyang

Luoyang (simplified chinese: 洛阳; traditional chinese: 洛陽; pinyin: Luòyáng) is a prefecture-level city in western Henan Province, PRC. Luoyang’s industrial face conveys little of its impressive history. The city was the site of the ancient Zhao court, where the sage Laozi was keeper of the archives. IT was also the site of China’s first university in 29BC, and was capital to 13 dynasties from Neolithic times till 937AD. Situated on the central plain of China, one of cradles of the Chinese civilization, Luoyang was one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China.

In Luoyang I had visited Quanlin, Baima Si, and Longmen Siku which would be addressed further in the different blog.

Dengfeng

Dengfeng township in Henan Province is smaller than either Luoyang or Kaifeng. The township is located in the Songshan Mountains, about 45 miles from the provincial capital, Zhengzhou, and 50 miles east of Luoyang.

In Dengfeng I had visited Yungtai Temple and Shaolin Templewhich would be addressed further in the different blog.

(Sources: Lonely Planet - China, DK - China, Wikipedia and other various sources).

Duanzhai Village of Jieshou County

On 12 July 2007, we visited Duanzhai Village of Jieshou County. In this village, SC has built a Children Activity Center and one multifunction building. In this building, almost everyday, there is a performance to dissiminate HIV/AIDS information to the villagers or other community. The performance is based on Henan style performance (see the picture).

Children Activity Center is used by children to play chess, read books or play together. The Center is also used by adult as meeting place or to have fun together since it was equipped by DVD, karaoke, etc.


SC UK, in the year of pig, in a so called Wishlist Program, has provided 15 families with People Live With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) with one pig each to support the families. This fund is a grant and will not be repaid by the families. Therefore this is not a sustainable income generation activity. However, this may provide an additional income for the PLWHA.

Notes on the pictures:
(1) Performance to disseminate HIV/AIDS information
(2) PwC Team, SC and the performance team
(3) Children Activity Center
(4) Children in the Activity Center
(5) Team in the village to visit the pig raised
(6) Pig raising cage