Grotto 18 Review

The 18th cave in the Datong Yungang Grottoes Scenic Area is the largest, most complicated and artistically valuable cave. The cave has a door and bright windows in the exterior. The main cave is the Li Buddha, and there are also group statues of the Buddha, Buddha statues and monk statues. The main high 15.5 meters, standing on a very low flat lotus seat, plain face high flesh, round face, big eyes, high nose, lobe ear, smiling face, wide shoulder, right arm down, hand is disabled, left hand is held on the chest. Wearing a close-fitting right shoulder, along the clothes pattern is covered with small sitting Buddha. The Lord has a side of each side to serve the Bodhisattva, and each carved five monk statues on the head of the Bodhisattva, a total of ten, some hands together, some pinched lotus or water bottles, etc., different postures, they may be the top ten disciples of Sakyamuni. The 18th hole has the largest open window, standing in the distance, and you can see the main image with an arrogant and humble expression, which seems to be specially designed for some purpose. The 18th cave main portrait is the Buddha head of the characteristics of the artistic statue of the Veda, but the body is Siamese vertical (like water wave-like garment folding treatment, light and elegant), but it has changed the "thin clothing permeation" method, unique thousands of Buddhas, for Yungang Grottoes unique. In the 18 caves, the Buddha statue is solemn and the Bodhisattva is gentle, some disciples are old and ascetic, some young and handsome, and some are smiling. The character's expression is meticulously depicted, especially the personality and demeanor of the disciple's image, the lower body is hidden in the wall, and the image is leaping out. It is a representative of the superb skills of the early grotto art.