Tianlongshan Grottoes — Southern Peak South Caves
天龙山石窟南峰南洞 · Heavenly Dragon Mountain South Caves · Taiyuan Tianlongshan Nan Dong
Eastern Wei–Northern Qi–Tang (Six Dynasties to Tang)·Eastern Wei Xianbei sinicized; Tang Shanxi Buddhist·🇨🇳 Shanxi Province, Taiyuan City, Jinyuan District, Tianlong Mountain 40 km southwest Taiyuan, Fen River west hills, China
About
About Tianlongshan Grottoes — Southern Peak South Caves
08), one of China's four great northern grottoes alongside Yungang–Longmen–Maijishan but smaller and more refined: 25 caves in 2 peaks (8 east, 16 west + southern peak southern caves annex high cliff south outcrop distinctive from main western grottoes) cut Eastern Wei 534–Northern Qi 550–Tang 618–907. ), Cave 11 south peak is most narrative: 300 Maitreya assembly relief with thin-line variable carving technique borrowed from Gupta (?) via Southern Dynasties.
Infamously looted 1920s–30s by Japanese Yamanaka and American Freer/Warner (21 heads in Boston, Chicago, Penn), now University of Chicago digital repatriation project 2013. Sandstone with coal measures Fen River flora. Yu Daoyong 6th c. attested. Distinct southern caves high on south peak provide Tianlong's most scenic valley fen panorama vs. western caves highway. Manshan pavilion Buddhist paradise hall like Dunhuang 45 but smaller.
Why it mattersMost refined Northern Qi thin-line cave sculpture in China, documenting Yan looting diaspora and Chicago digital repatriation precedent.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether looted Bodhisattva from Cave 11 south peak Cave 21?
- 02Yu Daoyong donor unknown
Theories
- 01Tianlong as Li Tang birthplace shrine vs. Yungang Tuoba capital
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.534–907 CE Eastern Wei Gao Huan 534, Northern Qi Gao Yang 550, Sui 581–618, Tang 618–907
- Period
- Eastern Wei–Northern Qi–Tang (Six Dynasties to Tang)
- Culture
- Eastern Wei Xianbei sinicized; Tang Shanxi Buddhist
- Builders
- Eastern Wei minister Gao Huan, Northern Qi emperor Gao Yang, Tang Taiyuan governors (Li Shimin birthplace)
- Purpose
- Taiyuan basin Fen River Buddhist royalty retreat (Taiyuan was Tang Li family birthplace, so Northern Qi–Tang imperial grottoes as Li Tang ancestral mountain shrine)
- Abandoned
- 907 Tang end; Ming minor; 1920s warlord looting
- Rediscovered
- 1897 Beijing scholar; 1922 Tokiwa Daijo Japanese survey; 1936 Liang Sicheng
- Excavation
- Excavated
534 CE
Eastern Wei first Tianlongshan north caves
550 CE
Northern Qi Cave 11 Maitreya south peak
1923
Warlord Yan Xishan loots heads to Yamanaka Japan
On the ground
Structures & features
37.7350° N · 112.0800° E · 1320 m · 2 mapped features
Tianlongshan — South Peak Cave 11 South Caves Maitreya Assembly
cave assembly7×10 m Northern Qi 550 CE Maitreya congregation 300 figures with Japanese-collected (?) Bodhisattva 1.2 m (Chicago Nelson) stolen 1920s but replica in situ
37.7360° N · 112.0810° ETianlongshan — Manshan Pavilion and Rain Flower Corridor
pavilion corridorTang Manshan pavilion corridor with 4 cliff Buddha niches overlooking Fen River valley, arson 554 CE relic and 7th c. Tang restoration
37.7340° N · 112.0790° E