Facts About Dazu Rock Carvings That You Will Find Fascinating
Gallery
The Dazu Rock Carvings in Dazu District, Chongqing, China, is a collection of Chinese cultural inscriptions and historical figures, or rather, carved figures.
Among these famous rock carvings, there are also more than 100,000 Chinese characters in epigraphs and inscriptions and over 50,000 statues. The sculptures, which date back to the seventh century AD, portray Taoist, Confucian, and Buddhist teachings as they are inspired by them.
Some are rock reliefs carved onto exposed rock faces, while others are found in the form of rock-cut cave shrines in the traditional Chinese-Buddhist style. The Dazu Rock Carvings comprise 75 protected sites with over 99,000 Chinese characters.
The sites are situated in Chongqing Municipality, on the steep slopes of Dazu District, roughly 103 mi (165 km) west of Chongqing's metropolitan region. On Mount Baoding and Mount Beishan, the rock grotto's highlights can also be discovered.
Shimenshan, Beishan, Shizhuanshan, Nanshan, and Baodingshan are the five places of the Dazu Rock Carvings in the Chongqing scenic area. 'Beishan' is made up of two groups of rock carvings and sculptures that run the length of a 984-ft (300-m) cliff wall.
These paintings depict Tantric Buddhist and Taoist themes and date from the ninth century to the 12th century.
'Boadingshan' comprises sculptures from the 12th and 13th centuries in a U-shaped valley near the Longevity Pavilion. The carved sculptures, which stretch over 1,640 ft (500 m), portray themes from Tantric Buddhism as well as secular life.
The rock art in 'Nanshan' dates from the Song Dynasty, during Emperor Shao Xing's reign, and depicts Taoist themes and symbols. There is also a stele commemorating Sichuan's history after the Mongol invasion in the 13th century.
The carvings known as 'Shizhuanshan' are from the early 12th century and are remarkable in that they include rock-hewn sculptures and carvings portraying Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. Wen Wijian, a notable sculptor of the period, is said to have carved the most important of the grotto sculptures.
Carvings from the 12th century may be seen at 'Shimenshan,' including sculptures of the Jade Emperor and various Buddhist statues.
History & Cultural Significance
The art of rock cutting is said to have begun in ancient India.
The first carvings on Mount Beishan were created in 650 AD during the period of the early Tang dynasty. The main period of their creation began during the late ninth century when the Prefect of Changzhou named Wei Junjing helped lead the carvings on Mount Beishan.
His example was followed by local as well as gentry, priests, and nuns, as well as normal folk during the Five Dynasties and 10 Kingdoms period after the Tang dynasty came crashing down.
A Buddhist monk called Zhao Zhifeng started work on the ornate sculptures and carvings atop Mount Baoding in the 12th century, during the Song dynasty, committing 70 years of his life to the endeavor. The Dazu rock carvings, unlike other collections of rock carvings, comprise sculptures representing all three main religions: Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism.
For many years, the sculptures were closed to tourists until they were reopened to Chinese travelers in 1961 and international visitors in 1980. Between the village of Dazu and the major cluster of sculptures, there was only a muddy trail until 1975.
World Heritage Site
In 1999, the sculptures were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for visual excellence, the rich diversity of their subject matter (both religious and secular), and the insight they give on ordinary life in China with passing time. They are designated as the outstanding evidence of the peaceful coexistence of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.
A remarkable set of five clusters of rock carvings from the 9th to 13th century can be seen on the steep slopes of the Dazu region near Chongqing. The greatest cluster in Beishan is made up of two groups that span around 984 ft (300 m) along a cliff face that is 23-33 ft (7-10 m) high.
More than 10,000 sculptures depicting Tantric Buddhism and Taoism themes date from the late ninth to the mid-twelfth centuries.
Inscriptions provide information about the history, religious beliefs, dates, and historical person identification. Shizhuanshan's late 11th-century Song dynasty sculptures span 426.5 ft (130 m) and portray Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian motifs in an uncommon tripartite configuration.
The Song dynasty sculptures at Shimenshan, which date from the first half of the 12th century and include Buddhist and Taoist motifs, stretch for 236 ft (72 m). The sculptures from the Song era, which span 282 ft (86 m) and represent predominantly Taoist topics, may be seen at Nanshan.
The U-shaped canyon at Baodingshan, which comprises two sets of sculptures dating from the late 12th to the mid-13th century nearby the Holy Longevity Monastery, is the pinnacle of Tantric Buddhism expression.
The big group to the west spans around 1,640 ft (500 m) and comprises 31 groups of carved sculptures illustrating Tantric Buddhism themes and images of herders and everyday life.
Protection & Management
The Dazu Rock Carvings have not been damaged by man or destroyed by natural calamities. Thus they preserve their original qualities and values from the time they were carved.
The notion of 'preserving the historic state' has been closely followed in daily upkeep and care.
The historical validity of the Dazu Rock Carvings' design, materials, technique, and arrangement has been preserved to this day.
In addition to putting up an effort to preserve and safeguard these sculptures, consideration has been given to the preservation of their natural and cultural environments.
As a consequence, the historical size, style, and qualities of the Dazu Rock Carvings have been largely conserved, preserving its secular belief, cultural transmission, and social teaching roles as a sort of sacred art to the greatest degree possible.
Heritage preservation laws and regulations apply at several administrative levels; the property is protected at the highest level by the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics.
The Chongqing Municipality's Regulations on the Management and Conservation of Dazu Rock Carvings have ensured that no destruction or deterioration would jeopardize the integrity and authenticity of Dazu's legacy.
The local government has also included the management and conservation of Dazu Rock Carvings into the local social and economic development plan in order to meet the essential criteria.
The conservation and management task of Dazu Rock Carvings will be done in accordance with the Conservation Master Plan, which includes the formulation of a scientific as well as precise maintenance and conservation plan and management measures, the establishment of a fully developed heritage monitoring system, and the formation of a team of conservation professionals.
Other Miscellaneous Facts
The Dazu Rock Carvings of China are made up of 75 protected sites with over 100,000 Chinese characters comprising inscriptions and epigraphs.
The Wei Jun Jing Bei, one of several engraved tablets found at the Dazu Rock Carvings of China, was etched in 895 and is the earliest written document found there. Cai Jing of the Song Dynasty carved another tablet (No. 104 of the northern portion).
The Dazu Rock Carving is one of the most well-preserved examples of Chinese cave temple art. Every one of the five clusters is confined inside its own property area and buffer zone, ensuring the sculptures' integrity, as well as the natural and cultural landscapes and historical knowledge they hold.
FAQs
What are Dazu Rock Carvings about?
The Carvings are an eight-hundred-year-old art gallery, and the sculptures depict the Buddha's everyday living teachings. The carved sculptures, which stretch over 1,640 ft (500 m), portray themes from Tantric Buddhism as well as secular life.
Where are Dazu Rock Carvings located?
The Dazu Rock Carving sites are situated in Chongqing Municipality, on the steep hillsides of Dazu District, roughly 103 mi (165 km) west of the metropolitan region of Chongqing, China.
What is the significance of Dazu Rock Carvings?
The carvings are recognized for their large size, artistic beauty, wide range of subject matter, and excellent preservation.
The Rock Carvings, which date from the 9th to 13th centuries, represent the Chongqing empire's pinnacle of Chinese cave temple art. They not only demonstrate the peaceful coexistence of three different religions in China, namely Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism but also provide tangible evidence that cave temple art has progressively shed light on everyday life.
Within the cultural site, a large number of carvings and written historical sources demonstrate the significant changes in the development of cave temple artwork and religious beliefs in China throughout that time.
How old are Dazu Rock Carvings?
The very first carving at Dazu Rock carving began approximately 650 CE during the early Tang Dynasty, but not until the late ninth century and under the Song Dynasty was the largest number of sculptures and carvings erected.
This was the time when Wei Junjing, the Prefect of Changzhou, excelled in Mount Beishan carvings, and his example was followed by the fall of the Tang dynasty by townspeople, monks, and nuns throughout the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms era.
The earliest sculptures were cliff-side stone carvings on Baodingshan hill, 9.3 mi (15 km) northeast of Dazu County, constructed during the Southern Song Dynasty.
Around the 12th century, Zhao Zhifeng, a Buddhist monk, devoted 70 years of his life to the intricate sculptures and carvings atop Mount Baoding. The result being that the Buddha sculptures carved throughout Dafowan's surrounding locations are the biggest and best-preserved.
Buddha sculptures atop the Beshan hills, in addition to Dafowan, are also well-known.
The hill, which is 0.9 mi (1.5 km) north of Dazu, was begun to carve during the late Tang dynasty and only finished during the Song dynasty. This location is also home to 10,000 finely carved pictures.
When and why was the Dazu Rock Carvings declared as a World Heritage Site?
The Rock Carvings were declared a UNESCO site in 1999. It was declared a UNESCO site because they are said to have made a major contribution to Chinese aesthetic expression.
The sculptures depict moral and logical themes such as the punishment of evildoers, the encouragement of people to do good, the management of their impulses, and the regulation of their conduct.
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