This severely underestimated grotto harbors a microcosm of a dynasty

The Northern Qi, as a non-unified dynasty, actually left few relics to posterity, and for most people, its first impression is likely one of mystery. Today, if one wishes to glimpse the appearance of this dynasty, the Xiangtangshan Grottoes are the best choice. There are a total of 22 caves in Northern Xiangtangshan, but only 9 caves in the north, central, and south areas are relatively well-preserved. Among them, the Great Buddha Cave at the northern end of the cave group is the largest in scale and the most lavishly decorated. It can be said that this cave almost completely encapsulates the microcosm of the Northern Qi dynasty. Although the entrance is small, the exterior of the cave is covered with white flowers, unexpectedly nurturing vigorous vitality amidst the ancient. Entering the Great Buddha Cave, the cave is larger than imagined. As the soul of Northern Xiangtangshan, the Great Buddha Cave has a depth and height of tens of meters, carving out an entire Buddhist world on the sheer cliff. Unlike the central pillar caves of Yungang, the central square pillar of the Great Buddha Cave has only three large niches on three sides, and the upper part of the rear wall is connected to the mountain, forming a low corridor at the bottom for passage during Buddhist rituals. The lighting in the cave relies entirely on the three windows above the cave door. Most of the time inside the cave, one is in the dim natural light, and only when passing through the corridor of the rear wall does the light break through the darkness, allowing one to truly feel the sacredness that shines into reality. The C-position of the entire Great Buddha Cave is the main statue in the central niche, the 3.5-meter-tall Sakyamuni Buddha, who is considered to represent Gao Huan, the founder of the Northern Qi. It is not uncommon to symbolize emperors with Buddha statues, such as the Longmen Grottoes I visited before, where the Lushena Buddha represents Wu Zetian, and the Tan Yao Five Caves of Yungang Grottoes represent the five emperors of the early Northern Wei. Looking up, the Great Buddha sits in a cross-legged position on a circular lotus seat, with the halo behind the Buddha mainly consisting of flame patterns and honeysuckle patterns, among which are flying dragons, and some colors remain. Looking closely at the Buddha's face, although it is somewhat damaged, the face is full, the body is broad, the shoulders are thick and round, which seems to be far from the 'thin bone clear image' and 'generous clothing and wide belt' that were popular during the Northern Dynasties. Why is this? Some studies suggest that after the Six Garrisons Rebellion, there was a strong 'anti-Sinicization' trend among the military class of the Northern Dynasties. Therefore, after the split of the Northern Wei, the Gao family, as the rulers of the Sinicized Xianbei, in the Xiangtangshan Grottoes, recreated the exotic Hu images from before the 'Sinicization reform' of the Northern Wei, which is not difficult to understand. The central pillar cave has three sides. In addition to the central Great Buddha, there is a half-cross-legged Buddha statue in the left cave, smiling, with two attendants, and the halo is also mainly honeysuckle and flame patterns, with guardian deities below the Buddha seat. The right side is more severely damaged, and the posture of the Buddha statue is no longer discernible, but it is equally exquisite and delicate. It is worth mentioning that there is a saying that there is a cave above the square pillar of the Great Buddha Cave, which is the tomb of Gao Huan. I also looked up to search for it, and it seems that there is an opening at the top of the cave, like an independent space. According to the records in the 'Book of Northern Qi' and 'Zizhi Tongjian', it is generally believed that Gao Huan was not actually buried in the west of Zhangshui, but was quietly buried in the grotto temple. This is actually a 'false burial' system, similar to the saying that Cao Cao had seventy-two doubtful tombs after his death. However, I remember watching a CCTV documentary where archaeological experts entered the cave above the square pillar to investigate, but in the end, they did not find any concrete evidence as to whether it was Gao Huan's tomb. Nevertheless, whether this claim is true or not, one has to admit that the relationship between the Xiangtangshan Grottoes and the Northern Qi dynasty is undeniable, whether it is the divine right of kings or the return of the soul after a hundred years. A small cave ultimately has no place to accommodate the entirety of a dynasty. 🏞Name | Northern Xiangtangshan Grottoes·Great Buddha Cave 🎫Ticket | 60 yuan ⛳Address | He Village Town, Fengfeng Mining District, Handan City 🚗Transportation | Navigate to 'Xiangtangshan Scenic Area' to get there