Maijishan Eastern Cliff — Tianshui Stacked Grottoes East Face
East Maiji · Maiji Shan east cliff
Later Qin to Song (384 – 1279 CE)·Buddhist Hexi to Central Plains transition at Wei River gap·🇨🇳 Gansu Province, Tianshui City, Maiji District, Maijishan scenic area east face 30 km SE Tianshui, China
About
About Maijishan Eastern Cliff — Tianshui Stacked Grottoes East Face
Eastern face of isolated Maijishan haystack hill 142 m high, 30 km southeast of Tianshui, where 90 of the 194 caves (total 7200 statues of Later Qin to Song, 384–1279 CE) form a dense stacked cliff with 16 m central Buddha and plank walkways linking 3 tiers. Eastern cliff preserves Northern Zhou to Tang painted clay Buddhas more sheltered than western windward collapse-repaired side. Called 'Oriental Sculpture Museum'.
Why it mattersEastern cliff complements famous western, showing Maiji is twin-faced sculpture hill with 90+ caves each side
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Later Qin 384 vs Wei dating controversy
- 02Eastern vs western cliff original entrance
Theories
- 01Hexi style transmitted to Chang'an model
- 02Clay sculpture vs stone Durga?
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Later Qin 384 first caves; Northern Wei 500 expansion; Tang 618–907 peak
- Period
- Later Qin to Song (384 – 1279 CE)
- Culture
- Buddhist Hexi to Central Plains transition at Wei River gap
- Purpose
- Celestial mountain sculpture hall on Silk Road southern detour
- Abandoned
- c.1279 Song fall
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
384
Yao Qin founds caves
734
Tang Plankway rebuild after quake
734–2020
Ongoing collapse and stitch repair
On the ground
Structures & features
34.3650° N · 106.0150° E · 1742 m · 3 mapped features
East Tier 3 – 16 m Buddha
colossusLarge Shakyamuni seated 16 m mid cliff pair
34.3653° N · 106.0153° ESuspended Plank Walkway (Zhanlu)
architectureWooden plank path bolted to conglomerate linking tiers
34.3649° N · 106.0148° ECave 4 – Seven Buddhas Hall
cave hallSeven Buddhas wall 7×3 m painted clay Northern Zhou
34.3651° N · 106.0155° E
Gallery