Beishan Cliffside Carvings, Buddhist cliffside carvings in Dazu, China
Beishan Cliffside Carvings are Buddhist stone sculptures covering a lengthy rock face and containing approximately 370 grottoes with nearly 10,000 carved figures. The figures are chiseled directly into the stone and depict various religious figures and scenes.
Carving began in 892 during the Tang Dynasty and continued across multiple centuries, finally completed during the Southern Song period. The extended creation period shows how important the project remained for generations of artisans and believers.
The carvings show Buddhist figures like Buddha, Bodhisattvas, and other religious beings that reflect the faith and spiritual practices of people across centuries. Visitors can see how these depictions were carved into stone and what meaning they held for people in those times.
The site is readily accessible to visitors, with informational plaques on location to help understand the history and meaning of the carvings. It is best to explore the figures during quieter hours to take time with the details.
The site contains old inscriptions from the Tang and Song periods that visitors can still partially read today. These written marks help us understand who created the carvings and why.
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