Lashaosi Grottoes

Lashaosi Grottoes

Located in Tianshui City, Wushan County, 50 kilometers east of the bell tower mountain, also known as the Buddha cliff. It is one of the five scenic spots in the Shuiliandong Grottoes group in Wushan, including xianshengchi, lazaisi, Qianfo cave, Shuiliandong and Sanqing cave. The winding path in the mountain is secluded in the forest, with birds contending and empty valley responding, opposite to the water curtain cave across the mountain

Architectural history

In 559 ad, the first year of Yuwen yuwucheng, Emperor Ming of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, Wei chijun, the governor of Qinzhou, was first built. A large number of grotto art works from the Northern Zhou Dynasty to the Yuan Dynasty are preserved in the temple. On a huge cliff, a 40 meter high statue of Shijia Buddha is carved in relief. Two thirds of the cliff surface was once a mural, and the existing part is extremely precious. There are three relief sculptures on the steep cliff. On both sides of the cliff are bodhisattvas holding lotus and standing in awe. Next to it is an inscription on the first year of Wucheng (559) of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. There are three rows of lions, deer and elephants engraved on the lotus platform. There are six lions in the upper layer, nine deer in the middle layer and nine elephants in the lower layer. The upper part of the cliff protrudes forward, and a wind eaves is built to cover the wind and rain. At the end of the eaves, flying clouds and animals are carved, and copper bells are hung. When the breeze passes, the whole shape leaves traces of Hinayana Buddhism, which is rare in China's grotto art.

characteristic

Lashao temple was founded in the Northern Zhou Dynasty, also known as the Great Buddha cliff, opposite to shuilian cave across the mountain. A large number of grotto art works from the Northern Zhou Dynasty to the Yuan Dynasty are preserved in the temple. There are three relief sculptures on the steep cliff, and the Buddha in the middle is more than 40 meters high, which is the largest relief sculpture on the cliff in China today. On both sides are the Bodhisattvas holding lotus and standing in awe. Sitting on the lotus platform, the Buddha has carved lion, deer and elephant between the lotus petals, standing or lying, symmetrically arranged, carved and simple, vivid and of high level of plastic arts. There are many niches surrounded by small Buddha statues of the Song Dynasty. The upper part of the cliff protrudes forward, and a wind eaves is built to cover the wind and rain. At the end of the eaves, flying clouds and animals are carved, and copper bells are hung. When the breeze passes, the bells are ringing. Its shape has traces of Hinayana Buddhism, which is rare in China's grotto art.

From the lashao Temple along the ditch into 1 Li is the thousand Buddha cave, named after the mural painting of Thousand Buddhas. There are seven caves in the cave, but there are still statues and murals on the sand cliff. The statues are full and different in appearance. In particular, the Bodhisattvas are rich and beautiful, with the characteristics of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. Some of them contain the legacy of the Western Wei Dynasty, which is an important material for the study of early grotto art in China.

Address: 50km to the east of Wushan County, Tianshui City

Longitude: 104.96857452393

Latitude: 34.84200668335

Chinese PinYin : La Shao Si Shi Ku