Longmen Grottoes
龙门石窟 · 뤄룽구
cave in People's Republic of China
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Longmen Grottoes1:39
As we stand on the banks of the Yi River, we are witnessing one of the most profound artistic achievements of ancient China: the Longmen Grottoes. Carved into the limestone cliffs of Mount Xiang and Mount Longmen, this UNESCO…
Listen in the app2The Binyang Caves — Northern Wei Imperial Patronage1:34
Our exploration begins at the northern end of the West Hill with the Binyang Caves. This complex of three caves—North, Middle, and South—was commissioned by Emperor Xuanwu of the Northern Wei Dynasty to honor his parents. …
Listen in the app3Wanfo Cave — The Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas1:33
We move now to the Wanfo, or Ten Thousand Buddha Cave, completed in 680 AD during the Tang Dynasty. This cave is a masterpiece of the 'Pure Land' tradition of Buddhism. …
Listen in the app4The Lotus Cave — A Flower in the Stone1:32
The Lotus Cave, or Lianhua Dong, is another highlight of the West Hill, dating back to the late Northern Wei period. The most striking feature here is the massive lotus flower carved in high relief on the ceiling. …
Listen in the app5Fengxian Temple — The Great Vairocana Buddha1:36
We have arrived at the spiritual and artistic heart of Longmen: the Fengxian Temple. Completed in 675 AD, this is the largest and most awe-inspiring cave at the site. …
Listen in the app6Guyang Cave — The Library of Inscriptions1:31
As we head toward the southern end of the West Hill, we reach the Guyang Cave, the oldest cave at Longmen, begun in 493 AD. This cave is a fascinating complex of thousands of small niches, but its true value to scholars lies in…
Listen in the app7Crossing the Yi to Xiangshan Temple1:28
To complete our journey, we cross the river to the East Hill, home to the Xiangshan Temple and the Bai Garden. While the caves on the East Hill are fewer, this side of the river offers the best panoramic view of the entire West…
Listen in the app8Closing1:33
As our tour of the Longmen Grottoes concludes, we are left with a profound sense of the enduring power of human creativity. We have walked through fifteen centuries of history, witnessing the shift from the delicate spirit of the…
Listen in the app
What is Longmen Grottoes?
Longmen Grottoes is a place in 뤄룽구 with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | 뤄룽구 |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Total length | 12 min 26 s in all |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 34.5556, 112.4697 |
| Last updated |
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