There are three Binyang caves in Xishan Grottoes, including Binyang South Cave, Binyang Middle Cave and Binyang North Cave. “Bin Yang” means welcoming the sun of birth. It is one of the caves built by Emperor Xuanwu of the Northern Wei Dynasty to perform meritorious deeds for his parents, Emperor Xiaowen and Empress Dowager Wenzhao.
Binyang Middle Cave is a representative cave in the Northern Wei Dynasty. Construction started in 500 AD and took 24 years to complete. Later, due to reasons such as the coup and the death of the host Liu Teng, only one of the three caves in the plan was completed, namely the Binyang Middle Cave. The main statues in the South Cave and the North Cave were not completed until the early Tang Dynasty. The interior of the Binyang Middle Cave is a horseshoe-shaped plane with a dome on the top and a lotus cover composed of large double-petaled lotuses carved in the center. Surrounding the lotus are eight celestial beings and two supporting celestial beings.
Inside the cave are the themes of the three generations of Buddhas, namely the past, present and future Buddhas. The main Buddha is Sakyamuni. Since the Northern Wei Dynasty advocated thinness as beauty, the Lord Buddha, Sakyamuni, had thin cheeks, a slender neck, and a slender body. There are four layers of exquisite reliefs on the north and south sides of the front wall of the cave from top to bottom. The first layer is a relief sculpture based on the story of “Vimalakīrti Sutra”, called “Vimalakīrti Sutra”. The second level is two stories of the Buddha’s life. The third floor is the famous picture of emperors and empresses worshiping Buddha. The fourth floor is the relief statue of “Ten God Kings”.
Several major Buddha statues in the Binyang South Cave were completed in the early Tang Dynasty. The main Buddha in the cave is Amitabha, with a plump face, broad shoulders and plump body, which reflects the Tang Dynasty’s style of looking at fatness as beauty.
Telephone
0379-65980972
Reference when using
1-3 hours
transportation
It is located in the Xishan Grottoes in the Longmen Grottoes Scenic Area, between Wanfo Cave and Qianxi Temple, within walking distance.
Opening hours
All day (January 1st - December 31st, Monday - Sunday)