Longmen Binyang Central Cave — Mt Long Gate Middle Grotto Sanctuary
Binyang Zhongdong · Central Binyang
Northern Wei to Tang (493 – 750 CE)·Buddhist imperial Luoyang under Empress Dowager Hu·🇨🇳 Henan Province, Luoyang City, Longmen Grottoes, Yi River gorge Binyang group central cave, China
About
About Longmen Binyang Central Cave — Mt Long Gate Middle Grotto Sanctuary
Central Binyang cave (Binyang Zhongdong) heart of Longmen's 2,345 caves on the Yi River limestone gorge 12 km south of Luoyang, begun Northern Wei c.500 CE by Emperor Xuanwu where 11 m Sakyamuni flanked by 2 Ananda-Kasyapa (heads lopped) exemplifies classical Longmen style between Northern Wei and Tang transition. 110,000 niches total. UNESCO 1003.
Why it mattersBinyang central links Longmen from imperial Wei to cosmopolitan Tang metropolis
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Binyang central Buddha portrait emperor?
- 02Head thefts early 20th c. museum where
Theories
- 01Wu Zetian Fengxian 672 personalization
- 02Luoyang as Buddhist metropolis model
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Binyang start 500; central 520; Tang奉先 672–675
- Period
- Northern Wei to Tang (493 – 750 CE)
- Culture
- Buddhist imperial Luoyang under Empress Dowager Hu
- Purpose
- State Buddhism legitimizing Northern Wei shift south to Luoyang
- Abandoned
- c.907 Tang fall
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
493
Luoyang capital move initiates Longmen
500
Binyang project starts
672
Fengxian Temple giant Buddhas Tang
On the ground
Structures & features
34.5550° N · 112.4670° E · 148 m · 3 mapped features
Binyang Central Sakyamuni
sculpture11 m central Buddha with flanking Bodhisattvas heads missing
34.5553° N · 112.4673° EBinyang Flanking Emperors Relief
reliefRelief of Emperor and Empress worship procession 2.1 m panel
34.5551° N · 112.4668° EFengxian Vaulted Porch Overlook
viewpointTang Fengxian outer giants 17 m viewed across river
34.5560° N · 112.4680° E
Gallery