Matisi Grottoes — Southern Sunan Secondary Cliff
马蹄寺南崖石窟 · Mati Si Southern Niche · Horse Hoof Temple South
Sixteen Kingdoms to Tang (Northern Liang 420 peak)·Hexi Corridor mixed Han–Tibetan Buddhist (Juqu Mengxun lineage)·🇨🇳 Gansu, Zhangye, Sunan Yugur Autonomous County, Matisi Southern Cliff, China
About
About Matisi Grottoes — Southern Sunan Secondary Cliff
Southern extension 1.2 km south of the main Mati Si (Horse Hoof) grottoes (already mati-si-grottoes) on the Qilian foothills at 2650 m, comprising 12 additional Northern Liang–Tang cliff niches cut into red sandstone conglomerate. The 6-m Thousand-Buddha Southern Cave (Northern Liang 420 CE) retains the hoof-print legend grotto with horse-hoof depression, while the Tang 700 CE Avalokitesvara hall shows Tibetan-style repaint after 760 An Lushan flight patrons. Aerial wooden plankways linking caves — original Tang hanging corridor — are reproduced in modern reconstruction. The southern cliff is less visited but shows earlier Liang dating via 425 CE inscription, predating main Mati Si core.
Why it mattersEarliest Hexi Corridor Buddhist rock art south of Dunhuang, predating Mogao core 420 vs 366 but distinct tradition.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Hoof-print cult origin
- 02Liang vs Northern Wei stylistic precedence
Theories
- 01Hexi royal patronage refuge
- 02Qilian pass blessing station
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.420 CE Northern Liang to 760 CE Tang
- Period
- Sixteen Kingdoms to Tang (Northern Liang 420 peak)
- Culture
- Hexi Corridor mixed Han–Tibetan Buddhist (Juqu Mengxun lineage)
- Builders
- Northern Liang royal house and later Tang Hexi patrons
- Purpose
- Hexi Corridor caravan monastery marking Qilian pass to Tibet
- Abandoned
- c.900 CE with Ganzhou Uyghur transition
- Rediscovered
- 1920s Stein hesitation; 1980s Sunan survey
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
420 CE
Northern Liang Juqu Mengxun Thousand-Buddha cave
760 CE
Tang Tibetan repaint after An Lushan
1940
Aurel Stein traverse notes southern cliff
2010
Southern plankway reconstruction
On the ground
Structures & features
38.4800° N · 100.4100° E · 2650 m · 2 mapped features
Thousand-Buddha Southern Cave
cave hall6-m cave with 1000 small buddhas and hoof-print depression
38.4810° N · 100.4110° EHanging Plankway Corridor
plankway40-m reproduced Tang hanging timber corridor linking 4 caves
38.4790° N · 100.4090° E