Dazu Rock Carvings
travel wonder in China

Why the
Dazu Rock Carvings
are special

The Dazu figures project a greater sense of humanity than the statuary found in China's three other great Buddhist cave and cliff art sites (Longmen, Mogao and Yungang).

Dazu Rock Carvings
tips & insights

Number

The Dazu area has more than 50,000 carvings.

Many sites

Unlike the sculptures in the other major Buddha cave and cliff art sites, those in the Dazu region are spread over a large geographical area. There are 75 distinct major sites.

Top two sites

Fortunately for the tourist in a hurry, the two best Dazu sites are situated near Dazu town, making it easy to see both in the same morning or afternoon. Those sites are:

Baodingshan (top choice)

Beishan (runner-up)

Creation

The stone carvings were begun in the 9th century (late Tang Dynasty) and continued into the 13th Century (Song Dynasty).

Faith

Most of the artwork is Buddhist related, though the Confucian and Taoist persuasions are represented. In some cases, there is an obvious convergence of the three themes.

Secular life

It is also embodied in the Dazu Rock Carvings. Even the images of ordinary people doing everyday chores were sculpted in stone.

Must see carvings in the Baodingshan site:

Reclining Buddha
A 30 meter (100 foot) long carving of the elderly Buddha at the final stage of attaining nirvana. He's flanked by statuary of his disciples (see photo)

Great Buddhist Crescent
A thousand sculptures are carved on a long, continuous amphitheatre-shaped cliff. Impressive.

Wheel of the Universe
Anicca (representing the Buddhist belief in the impermanence of existence) holds a large disc-shaped stone wheel carved with animals

Thousand Arms
The 1007 arms of the Buddhist deity Avalokitesvara are broadly spread out, peacock style.

Also known as

The Dazu Rock Carvings are also called the Dazu Stone Sculptures.

Location

The Dazu Rock Carvings are in Dazu county, a political unit of the Chongqing municipality.

Pronunciation guide

Dazu:  dah-zoo

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