Luoyang : Around Luoyang
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................................................................................................................................................................................ Longmen Grottoes ................................................................................................................................................................................ |
The city's
best known is the Buddhist carvings of the Longmen Grottoes. A mere 12 miles
south of the city centre, on the banks of the River Yi, the Longmen (Dragon
Gate) Grottoes rank among the top three cave temples in China. The 1,352
grottoes of Longmen contain more than 100,000 images of the Buddha, some
small enough to fit in your palm and one standing 55 feet high. The caves
reveal a progression of styles from the Northern Wei through the Sui and
into the early Tang Dynasty. Many of these caves have been badly damaged
by earthquakes, water erosion and looters (both Chinese and foreign), but
most of what remains is still impressive. Doctors should take special note
of the Medical Prescription Cave, inscribed with remedies for more than
a hundred ancient illnesses.
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................................................................................................................................................................................ White Horse Temple ................................................................................................................................................................................ |
| This is considered
to be the earliest Buddhist foundations in China, dating from the first
century (Eastern Han Dynasty) which the capital was Luoyang. Though none
of the buildings is original, the spirit of the place lives on. The surviving
temple structures all dates from the Ming Dynasty, but many of the buildings
have the original Han bricks. The temple is a centre for Chan-better known
by its Japanese name Zen-learning. |
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| ................................................................................................................................................................................ Songshan Mountain ................................................................................................................................................................................ |
| Located in
the northeast of Dengfeng county, one of the five most well known mountains
in China, is a tourist site with spectacular landscapes and rare geological
resources, at the foot of which lies the 1,500 year old Shaolin Temple,
the cradle of the famous Shaolin Boxing (Chinese martial arts). The park, covering a total area of 450 sq. km contains well preserved stratum records of prehistoric times dating back tens of millions of years ago. The mountain consists of Taishi, Shaoshi and other imposing peaks, among which the highest is Jinji. |
| ................................................................................................................................................................................ Shaolin Temple ............................................................................................................................................................................... |
Located in
Dengfeng county, 80 kilometers southeast of Luoyang. Shaolin Temple is famous
not only as one of China's important Buddhist shrines, but also as the ancient
center of Chinese kung-fu. Built in 495, the temple was originally designed
to house Batuo, a celebrated Indian monk, who, after many years of spreading
Buddhism, was later known as Fo Tuo, or Grand Monk. The present buildings
at Shaolin Temple are spread out over an area of about 10,000 acres. The
most interesting relics are the murals in the Eastern Hall, which depict
groups of boxing monks.
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