Investigation On Buddhist Grottoes And Cliff Statues In The Middle Ancient Times In Linfen Area

There are 32 grottoes and cliffs in Linfen in the Middle Ages.The preliminary fieldwork of the caves and cliff statues was carried out to obtain information on the current state of preservation of these Buddhist statues and record the information through video recordings,survey data and inscriptions for future research.The introductory section provides an overview of the existing scholarship on Buddhist statues in the Middle Ages in Shanxi and Linfen and the history of the establishment and development of Buddhism in Linfen during the Middle Ages.Linfen,because of its special geographical location was an early introduction of Buddhism and was consistent with the development of Buddhism in China.The first and second chapters are case studies of the larger and better preserved caves and cliffs of the Middle Ages in Linfen which are studied in terms of niche form,style of iconography and inscriptions.Such as: Xiaping Grotto,Xixian Thousand Buddha Cave,Xiangning Thousand Buddha Cave,Shiyodian Grotto,Peifeng Cave,Mukou Grotto,Thousand Buddha Cliff,Ohlu Cliff,Xilongmen Cliff,Jikou Cliff,etc.The study infers the period of excavation of the caves and cliffs and analyzes the Buddhist scriptures on which they are based.The grottoes and cliffs in Linfen are rich in themes: Three Buddhas,Thousand Buddhas,Two Buddhas Sitting Together,Five Buddhas,Fifty-three Buddhas,Maitreya,Guanyin,Maitreya and so on were mostly excavated by folk Yi-Yi organizations.Chapter 3summarizes the characteristics and significance of the caves and cliff statues in the Linfen area during the Middle Ages from a holistic perspective and makes some suggestions for the conservation of the relevant cultural relics and monuments in the light of the causes of the destruction of the statues.The caves and cliffs in Linfen are built throughout the Middle Archaic period mostly during the Northern Dynasties;Linfen is located in a basin between the Taihang Mountains and the Luliang Mountains and the caves and cliffs are mostly located in the southwest.The grottoes and cliff statues of the Middle Archaic period in Linfen are influenced by the large grottoes of the Yungang Grottoes in Datong,the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang,the Gong County Grottoes,the Rangtang Mountain Grottoes and they are influenced by the surrounding areas while retaining their local characteristics.Buddhist statues are an important symbol of the spread and development of Buddhism,as well as a reflection of the beliefs of the local people.The caves and cliff statues of the Middle Ages in Linfen reflect the prevalence of the beliefs of Dharma,Maitreya,the Eleven-faced Guanyin and the Five Buddhas,as well as the spread of Tantric Buddhism,Pure Land Buddhism and Huayan Buddhism in Linfen.It fundamentally reflects the large number of Buddhist followers,the strong Buddhist faith,the flourishing of Buddhism and the gradual integration of Buddhism and Taoism in the Middle Ages of Linfen.It is important for the study of Chinese Buddhism and the development of Buddhist art.