Who does the giant Buddha of Longmen represent?

The Buddhas, arranged in three groups in the cave, are representative of Buddhas of the past, the present, and the future. The canopy in the roof is designed as a lotus flower.

Where are the Longmen Grottoes?

The Longmen Grottoes, located on bothsides of the Yi River to the south of the ancient capital of Luoyang, Henan province, comprise more than 2,300 caves and niches carved into the steep limestone cliffs over a 1km long stretch.

Who was one of the primary patrons of the great vairocana Buddha at Longmen Caves?

Sponsored by the Emperor Gaozong and his wife, the future Empress Wu, the high relief sculptures are widely spaced in a semi-circle. The central Vairocana Buddha (more than 55 feet high including its pedestal) is flanked on either side by a bodhisattva, a heavenly king, and a thunderbolt holder (vajrapani).

What were the Longmen Caves used for?

The Longmen cave-temple complex, located on both sides of the Yi River (south of the ancient capital of Luoyang), is an excellent site for understanding how rulers wielded this foreign religion to affirm assimilation and superiority.

Who is vairocana Buddha?

Vairocana (also Mahāvairocana, Sanskrit: वैरोचन) is a cosmic buddha from Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. Vairocana is often interpreted, in texts like the Avatamsaka Sutra, as the dharmakāya of the historical Gautama Buddha.

When was the Longmen Caves built?

Construction at the site continued sporadically throughout the 6th century and culminated in the Tang dynasty (618–907) with the construction of a cave shrine, known as Fengxian Si. This truly monumental temple was carved out over the three-year period between 672 and 675.

How do I get to Longmen Grottoes?

You can take high speed trains or normal trains from Zhengzhou East Railway Station or Zhengzhou Railway Station to Luoyang Railway Station or Luoyang Longmen Railway Station. There are about 120 trains running between these two cities. Then take a bus or taxi to Longmen Grottoes from the train stations.

When was the Longmen Grottoes built?

History. The construction of the Longmen Caves started in 493, when Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386–534) shifted his capital from Datong to Luoyang. Buddhism in China reached its peak for the first time. In the Tang Dynasty (618–907), Chinese Buddhism reached its second peak.

When were the Longmen Caves created?

When were the Longmen Caves built?

What group accidentally discovered the Ajanta caves?

On 28 April 1819, John Smith, the Madras Presidency officer, accidentally discovered the entrance to Cave No. 10 deep within the tangled undergrowth while hunting a tiger, which led to the discovery of the showpiece Ajanta caves.

Is vairocana God?

During the initial stages of his mission in Japan, the Catholic missionary Francis Xavier was welcomed by the Shingon monks since he used Dainichi, the Japanese name for Vairocana, to designate the Christian God.