North Grotto Temple
Located to the southeast of the Xifeng District at the confluence of Ruhe and Puhe Rivers in the precinct of Qingyang city, the North Grotto Temple is 25 kilometers away from the city center. The grotto temple was caved by Xi Kangsheng, Prefect of Jingzhou in 509, the 2nd year under the reign of Yongping in the Northern Wei Dynasty. It is the sister grotto temple of the Southern Grotto Temple in Pingliang Prefecture, one of the important grottoes along the northern route of the Silk Road.
Backed by green mountains and facing the limpid water the Northern Grotto Temple was caved along a red stone cliff of 120 meters in length and 20 meters in height. Disposed with a total of 295 caves of Northern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Zhou all the way down to Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan and Qing dynasties They house a number of 2125 sculptured figures and figurines of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, tutelary devas and other deities. It is a grotto temple with the richest contents of Buddhism in the Longdong area. The grottoes consist of upper, middle and lower three tiers, of which the earliest and largest cave is No.165 with a total floor space of 340 square meters. On entering the cave visitors are ushered in by 7 standing Buddha figures of 8 meters high and both sides of the cave are guarded with two tutelary devas known as Asura. Of all the caves those caved in Tang Dynasty were the most numerous while the most representative one is that of Cave No.32 sunk in 692, the first year under the reign of Ruyi by her majesty Empress Wu Zetian. The figures big and small in the cave are all exguisite sculptures with round and expressive complexions, beautiful and affectionate eyes, lively and touching as though they are going to follow you and move around. Therefore, then can be regarded as precious art pieces in the flourishing period of the Tang Dynasty.
Besides, kept in the cave temple are more the 150 tablet inscriptions handed down from the Sui, Tang, Song, Kin and Western Xia and Yuan dynasties as well. They are the treasures good for the study of the history and art of calligraphy of ancient times. The inscriptions have also jotted down the exact years for the sinking of the grottoes. They are written material references of very good value for the study of changes and development of social life in various dynasties.
