ABCs of Longmen: How glory was conceptualized?
( chinadaily.com.cn )
Updated: 2015-11-30
Luoyang was the capital of the late Northern Wei Dynasty (AD 386-534) and alternate capital during Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). Located at the suburb of Luoyang, the Yique canyon or more widely known as Longmen, became a perfect choice for the royal families when they decided to open grottoes.
Most of the grottoes in Longmen was opened by the royal families and aristocrats for example, the Guyang Cave was built upon the call of Xiaowen Emperor in Northern Wei for Queen Mother Feng, his grandma; Xuanwu Emperor ordered the opening of Middle Binyang Cave for Xiaowen Emperor; and so on.
After getting orders from people in power, the most talented craftsmen and eminent Buddhism monks were gathered for the projects, and made Longmen Grottoes a model for Buddhist cave art for centuries to come.
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The Losana Buddha in Longmen Grottoes [Photo / Longmen Grottoes on WeChat] |
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| The Guyang Cave in Longmen Grottoes [Photo / Longmen Grottoes on WeChat] |
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The Hunangfugong Cave in Longmen Grottoes [Photo / Longmen Grottoes on WeChat] |
