Buddhist site in Gansu, China
The Eastern Thousand Buddha Caves (simplified Chinese : 东千佛洞 ; traditional Chinese : 東千佛洞 ; pinyin : Dōng Qiānfó Dòng ) is a series of rock cut Buddhist caves in Guazhou County , Gansu , northwest China .[ 1] Of the twenty-three caves excavated from the conglomerate rock , eight have murals and sculptures dating from the Western Xia and Yuan dynasty ; many of the statues were reworked during the Qing dynasty .[ 2] [ 3] The caves extend in two tiers along the cliffs that flank both sides of a now dry river gorge, fourteen on the west bank (five with decoration) and nine on the east (three with decoration).[ 2] [ 3] Together with the Mogao Caves , Western Thousand Buddha Caves , Yulin Caves , and Five Temple Caves , the Eastern Thousand Buddha Caves is one of the five grotto sites in the vicinity of Dunhuang managed by the Dunhuang Academy .[ 4]
Caves
Eight caves are decorated with murals and sculptures:[ 2] [ 3]
Cave
Construction
Modification
Location
Cave 1
Yuan
west cliff; north end, lower tier
Cave 2
Western Xia
Qing (sculptures)
west cliff; centre, lower tier
Cave 3
Yuan
Qing (sculptures)
west cliff; south end, upper tier
Cave 4
Western Xia
west cliff; centre, upper tier
Cave 5
Western Xia
west cliff; centre, upper tier
Cave 6
Yuan
Qing (sculptures)
east cliff; north end, upper tier
Cave 7
Yuan
Qing (sculptures)
east cliff; centre, upper tier
Cave 8
Western Xia
east cliff; centre, upper tier
See also
References
External links
40°10′06″N 96°25′27″E / 40.168256°N 96.424105°E / 40.168256; 96.424105