Lotus-flower Cave

Lotus-flower Cave (Lianhua Cave) is so named because of the big lotus flower carved on the ceiling. The lotus flower is the most exquisite on the caissons of the niches at Longmen. The lotus flower is surrounded by six flying apsaras, slim in figure. The back wall is occupied with a Buddha and two disciples. The two disciples was engraved relief, with Kasyapa on the left, holding a stick, and Ananda on the right, all of the three standing. Beside the two disciples are two bodhisattvas. The head of Ananda was stolen and is now collected in Jimei Museum of France. On the north and south walls were cut several layers of medium and small-sized Buddhist niches, the three layers on the south wall were cut in good order, while those on the north wall are different in size and severely eroded. The small niches are of different shapes, all finely sculptured.

To the north of the gate of this cave is engraved a Buddhist sutra, which is one of the early stone carving sutras in China.

Publishes at : 07-09-22 00:06

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