Yulin Grottoes is also called Caves of Thousands of Buddhas. It is one of the treasure houses of Buddhist grottoes art in China. The caves were built on bank cliffs at two sides of the Yulin River valley. There are now 42 caves in existence, 31 on the east bank and 11 on the west bank. Clear water runs through between banks where thick woods of elms grow, hence the name of Yulin Grottoes (Elm Grottoes) was called. In the grottoes preserved are statues of nearly a thousand ones and frescoes of more than a thousand square meters. The first group of caves were built in the Northern Wei Dynasty and in the following dynasties more caves were built or restored. The forms of caves and contents of paintings showed close connection with those in Mogao grottoes. They are important component parts of Dunhuang Art, and have great historical and art value.
During the reign of Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty a ivory sculpture of Buddha was found in a cave. It had been a treasure handed down from generation to generation, and was presented to the state by the latest abbot. The appearance of the sculpture shows a Buddha riding on a elephant. The whole statue is 15.9cm in height, 11.4cm in length and 3.5cm breadth. It is divided into two halves. On the inner face of each half carved are Jataka narratives which tell of the good deeds performed by Sakyamuni. All together there are 279 figures and 12 horse-drawn carriages. They all have vivid gestures, but not alike. According to the art style, it should be a art treasure made in India about one thousand years ago, and brought to China by monks in Tang Dynasty. The original article is now preserved in the Palace Museum in Beijing, and there is a reproduction on display in Anxi County Museum.
Caves No.25, No.3 and No.29 are representative works in Yulin Grottoes. Frescoes well preserved in the three caves are masterpieces which reflect outstanding level of wall paintings. |
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