From the late Northern Wei period to the Eastern Wei and Northern Qi periods,Buddhist grottoes were densely dis-tributed in Jinzhong City,Shanxi Province.These grottoes are relatively small in scale and simple in design.The entrance of the grot-toes is mostly square or arched with pointed lintels.The statues inside the grottoes are three walls and three niches,or a pedestal is set in front of the three walls.Common statues include one Buddha and two disciples,one Buddha and two Bodhisattvas,and one Bodhisattva and two disciples.The layout and artistic style of the statues in these grottoes are influenced by the four major Buddhist art centers of Pingcheng,Luoyang,Jinyang,and Yecheng.Jinzhong City is located on the western side of the Taihang Mountains,on the Jinyang-Yecheng Road,which connects the military and political centers of the late Northern Dynasties and the Buddhist centers of Jinyang and Yecheng.It has a strong religious foundation and superior geographical location.With the strong support of rulers,folk organizations raised funds to build grottoes,and a cluster of small and medium-sized grottoes appeared in the Jinzhong area.
JinzhongGrottogeographical locationthe builders of the grottoes
维普
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