Mati Si Thousand Buddha Cliff — Sunan Horse Hoof North Grottoes
Mati Si Upper Thousand Buddha · Matisi Bei
Sixteen Kingdoms to Yuan (397 – 1368 CE)·North Asian Buddhist with Tibetan Yugur later·🇨🇳 Gansu Province, Zhangye City, Sunan Yugur Autonomous County, Matisi town Qilian foothills north cliff, China
About
About Mati Si Thousand Buddha Cliff — Sunan Horse Hoof North Grottoes
Northern Thousand Buddha cliff at Mati Si (Horse's Hoof) 65 km south of Zhangye on the Qilian north face at 2650 m, with 30 caves of Northern Liang to Yuan (c.397–1368 CE) including Cave 7 with 500 arhats and the eponymous horse-hoof imprint of heavenly horse Tianlong in cave floor depression. Tibetan Yugur sacred mountain context, Hexi Corridor southern Tian Shan gateway.
Why it mattersNorthern Thousand Buddha cliff is earliest Mati group showing 1000-year cave continuity on Hexi frontier
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Northern Liang 397 vs Wei 441 dating of earliest caves
- 02Horse hoof folklore vs natural pothole
Theories
- 01Hexi corridor diffusion conduit
- 02Tibetan syncretism horse cult overlay
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Northern Liang 397; Northern Wei 441; Tang 650; Yuan 1271
- Period
- Sixteen Kingdoms to Yuan (397 – 1368 CE)
- Culture
- North Asian Buddhist with Tibetan Yugur later
- Purpose
- Meditation cave-monastery on Qilian–Hexi pilgrim route
- Abandoned
- c.1368 Yuan fall
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
397
Juqu Mengxun Northern Liang founds
441
Northern Wei expansion
1950
State protection
On the ground
Structures & features
38.4900° N · 100.4170° E · 2650 m · 3 mapped features
Cave 7 – 500 Arhats Hall
cave hallRectangular hall with 500 small Buddha niches
38.4902° N · 100.4173° EHorse Hoof Imprint Cave
relicFloor depression 30 cm hoof-shaped with Tibetan offerings
38.4898° N · 100.4168° EThousand Buddha North Terrace
terraceExterior terrace with 30 cave fronts viewed
38.4904° N · 100.4175° E