| The Yungang Grottoes, ancient Buddhist temples | | | | Xiao Wen that a monk named Tanyao took up the |
| located near the city of Datong in the Shanxi | | | | task of constructing the Yungang Grottoes. Cave |
| province of China, are excellent examples of rock-cut | | | | number six is the largest one at the site with a height |
| architecture. They are also one of the three most | | | | of 20 meters. It contains a 15 meter high column |
| famous cave clusters or ancient scriptural sites of | | | | decorated with Buddha statues and carvings. |
| China, the other two being Longmen and Mogao. | | | | Surrounding the pillar on all four sides are 33 panels |
| The grottoes lie in the valley of the Shi Li river at the | | | | depicting the life story of Sakyamuni. |
| base of the Wuzhou Shan mountains, and contain | | | | Most of the caves in the grottoes have been |
| stone carvings from the 5th and 6th centuries. In all | | | | numbered, making it easier to remember them than a |
| there are 252 grottoes and 53 caves lining a distance | | | | lot of tedious names. |
| of one kilometer, which have more than 51,000 | | | | Caves that derserve a special mention in the |
| Buddha statues and statuettes. | | | | Yungang Grottoes are the ones numbered 16, 17, 18, |
| The caves have been divided into three parts on the | | | | 19, and 20. This cluster of five caves is called the Tan |
| basis of their cultural and relic definitions. The eastern | | | | Yao Caves. They are very similar to each other in |
| part of the caves are dominated by 'Pagodas' while | | | | style but are definitely not identical. They all contain |
| the western caves are much smaller in size with | | | | statues of five emperors by the names of Taizu, |
| score of niches. The caves that lie in the center of | | | | Taizong, Shizu, Gaozong, and Gaozu, expressing the |
| these two have front and back chambers separated | | | | theme that Buddha was the sole emperor. |
| by hundreds of Buddha statues. The walls of these | | | | While the statue in cave 20 is martial and stately, the |
| caves have been embossed with ancient Chinese | | | | one in 19 is thought to be very handsome and |
| motifs. | | | | elegant. The one in 18 is considered to be the most |
| The construction on the Yungang Grottoes was | | | | dignified and yet the most lifelike. |
| started in 450 AD and they are a relic of the | | | | The underlying similarity in all the five figures start |
| Northern Wei Dynasty. Not only did the sculptures | | | | with the thick lips, go on to big noses and slanted |
| absorb the essence of Indian gandhara Buddhist art, | | | | eyes and end with broad shoulders. These depict the |
| it also drew inspiration from the social norms of the | | | | ethnic and religious perceptions of the time that the |
| time and combined the two in perfect harmony. | | | | statues were constructed. |
| It was during the rein of an emperor by the name of | | | | |