Baoquansi Caves
The Baoquansi Caves (Chinese:
Niches description & list
[edit]The Baoquansi Caves were carved into a cliff wall and are 40 meters long and eight meters high, with the grottoes running east to west.[3] Among the niches, three, four, five, and six are the largest. Some of these niches are square-shaped while others are horseshoe-shaped or domed. The largest of all is niche four. The width, height, and depth are all three meters. The main wall consists of the Buddhas Śākyamuni and Prabhūtaratna sitting side by side with Maitreya. The north and south walls are each composed of two Buddhas. There are also two Bodhisattvas standing at the entrance.[4]
Niche No. | Time Period | Content | Current Condition |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Early Northern Wei (Year 477-499) | One Buddha, two Bodhisattva | Good |
2 | One Buddha, two Bodhisattva | The Bodhisattva in good condition; the other two statues eroded | |
3 | Cross-legged Bodhisattva, two Buddhas sitting by each other, Manjusri, small Buddhas on the wall | Two Buddhas' face destroyed; cross-legged Bodhisattva face eroded; left Manjusri eroded | |
4 | Cross-legged Bodhisattva, two Buddhas sitting by each other, Manjusri, small Buddhas on the wall | Two Buddhas' surface destroyed; Manjusri's upper body destroyed | |
5 | One Buddha, two Bodhisattva | Collected by the Longdong Ancient Carved Stone Art Museum (Chinese: 陇东 | |
6 | Eleven Buddha statues | Heads damaged | |
7 | Late Northern Wei to Western Wei (Year 534-557) | Cross-legged Bodhisattva, two Buddhas sitting by each other | Heads damaged |
8 | Buddha statue | Head damaged | |
9 | One Buddha, two Bodhisattva | Heads damaged | |
10 | One Buddha, two Bodhisattva | Leg lost for the right Bodhisattva | |
11 | One Buddha, two Bodhisattva | Face eroded | |
12 | One Buddha, two Bodhisattva | Heads damaged | |
13 | Mid Northern Wei (Year 490-512) | Two Buddha statues | Heads damaged |
14 | One Buddha, two Bodhisattva | Collected by the Longdong Ancient Carved Stone Art Museum (Chinese: 陇东 | |
15 | Cross-legged Bodhisattva, two Manjusri | Heads damaged | |
16 | Late Northern Wei to Western Wei (Year 534-557) | Buddha statue | Eroded |
17 | Buddha statue | Eroded | |
18 | Buddha statue | Eroded | |
19 | Two Buddha statues | Faces damaged | |
20 | Unknown | Damaged due to erosion | |
21 | Two Buddha statues | Faces damaged | |
22 | One Buddha, two Bodhisattva | Manjusri destroyed | |
23 | Cross-legged Buddha, lion head, Buddha head | Lion and Buddha heads eroded | |
24 | One Buddha, two Bodhisattva | Only legs remain | |
25 | One Buddha, two Bodhisattva | Eroded | |
26 | Unknown | Damaged due to erosion | |
27 | Unknown | Damaged due to erosion | |
28 | Unknown | Damaged due to erosion | |
29 | Five Buddha statues | Partially remained | |
30 | Unknown | Damaged due to erosion | |
31 | Early Northern Wei (Year 477-499) | Strongman statue | Lower body covered in ground; head missing |
32 | Late Northern Wei (Year 512-534) | One Buddha, two Bodhisattva | Heads damaged |
33 | Buddha statue | Head damaged | |
34 | Unknown | Statue building incomplete | |
35 | Buddha statue | Collected by the Longdong Ancient Carved Stone Art Museum (Chinese: 陇东 | |
36 | Buddha statue | Eroded | |
37 | One Buddha, two Bodhisattva | Collapsed | |
38 | Unknown | Damaged due to erosion | |
39 | Unknown | Damaged due to erosion | |
40 | Unknown | Damaged due to erosion | |
41 | Unknown | Damaged due to erosion |
Murals
[edit]During the mid to late Northern Wei Dynasty, murals, utilizing many colors, were used to emphasize different characters. These murals mainly included images of the Asparas, the Bodhisattva, the thousand buddhas, Buddha, and donors. These characters were often portrayed as tall and thin figures with a clear composition outline. Various shades of green were also used heavily during the Northern Wei Dynasty. Complementary and supplementary colors were used to create a total sense of harmony.
Relic destruction, protection, and relocation
[edit]Across Chinese history, there has been looting and destruction of buddha statues, however, this was exacerbated in the late 19th and 20th centuries. During the Cultural Revolution, there was an increased belief in destroying ancient Chinese culture. For instance, the "Destroy the Four Olds" motto led to the mass destruction of antique items. After the Cultural Revolution, the Gansu government listed these caves in the Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit and sent caretakers to look after the caves. However, despite this protection, looting still continued to plague the area. As a result, the government decided to move three buddha statues in the best condition to the Longdong Ancient Carved Stone Art Museum (Chinese: 陇东
See also
[edit]- Western Thousand Buddha Caves
- Eastern Thousand Buddha Caves
- Mogao Caves
- Yulin Caves
- Bingling Temple
- Five Temple Caves
- Maijishan Grottoes
- Tiantishan Caves
- Chinese Buddhism
- Andingsi Grottoes
- Lianhua Temple-Cave
References
[edit]- ^ Zheng, Guomu; Wei, Wenbin (2011). "
甘 肃合水 保全 寺石 窟 调查简报".石窟 寺 研究 =Studies of The Cave Temples. 2.文物 出版 社 =Cultural Relics Publishing House. - ^ a b "
保全 寺石 窟 ". Silk Roads World Heritage 丝绸之 路 世界 遗产. - ^ "
保全 寺 —张家沟门石窟 ". January 3, 2018. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. - ^
国家 文物 局 =National Cultural Heritage Administration (June 2001).中国 文物 地 图集:甘 肃分册 [Atlas of Chinese Cultural Relics: Gansu Book]. 测绘出版 社 =Surveying and Mapping Press.