Bingling Temple Grottoes
Binglingsi · Bingling Thousand-Buddha Caves
Sixteen Kingdoms → Qing 420–1911·Buddhist (Hexi Silk Road)·🇨🇳 Gansu Province, Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Yongjing County, Liujiaxia Gorge on Yellow River, now above reservoir, China
About
About Bingling Temple Grottoes
Yellow River gorge sanctuary of 183 caves and 694 statues cut into 60 m yellow sandstone cliff above reservoir since 420 CE (Western Qin) to Qing, famous for 27 m Maitreya Buddha (Tang) carved from living rock above gorge, visible 10 km down-valley. Murals 900 m² include earliest accurately dated Chinese grotto inscription (420 CE, Western Qin). Now island cliff accessible only by 30 min boat through Liujiaxia reservoir.
Why it mattersEarliest reliably dated Buddhist cave in China (420 CE); unique waterscape setting post-dam; Maitreya as Silk Road navigational landmark.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Date authenticity of 420 inscription — recarved later claim?
Theories
- 01Reservoir heritage adaptation 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
- 420 CE Western Qin to Qing 19th c.; peak Tang
- Period
- Sixteen Kingdoms → Qing 420–1911
- Culture
- Buddhist (Hexi Silk Road)
- Builders
- Western Qin → Northern Wei → Tang monks
- Purpose
- Gorge toll and riverine Silk Road lighthouse shrine
- Abandoned
- 19th c.; submerged approach 1969 dam
- Rediscovered
- 1950s Gansu survey
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
420 CE
Western Qin King Qifu Chipan begins first caves (earliest dated inscription)
c.650–750 CE
Tang colossus 27 m Maitreya carved above gorge
On the ground
Structures & features
35.8220° N · 103.0500° E · 1680 m · 1 mapped feature
27 m Maitreya colossus (Tang)
colossusStanding Maitreya above gorge
35.8222° N · 103.0502° E
Gallery