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dc.coverage.spatialSite: Yungang Grottoes (Datong, Shanxi, China)en_US
dc.coverage.temporalca. 460-494 (creation)en_US
dc.creatorunknown (Chinese)en_US
dc.date460-494en_US
dc.date.accessioned2013-08-07T19:26:05Z
dc.date.available2013-08-07T19:26:05Z
dc.date.issued460-494en_US
dc.identifier229803en_US
dc.identifier.otherarchrefid: 2370en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1721.3/137601
dc.descriptionCave 16 interior, inner wall of entrance, west side; The Yungang Grottoes are located 16 km west of Datong and comprise about 53 caves and 51,000 statues. The site stretches about 1 kilometer from east to west and was hollowed from the sandstone cliffs of the Wuzhou Mountains during the 5th century CE under the patronage of the Northern Wei dynasty. Founded by the Tuoba or Toba people, who ruled northern China during the Northern and Southern Dynasties period (310-589 CE), the Wei dynasty adopted Buddhism as its state religion. Work was begun at Yungang by the emperor Wenchengdi (reigned 452-465). The caves range in width from 23 m to a few metres. In 494, the Wei moved their capital from Datong to Luoyang and the Yungang Grottoes slowly fell into decay. The Grottoes have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001. The earliest caves (16-20, ca. 460-465) are named after the monk-official Tanyao. In one of the earliest written Chinese references to Buddhism, the Wei shu (‘History of the Wei’, compiled in the Northern Qi period (550–77)), records Tanyao’s suggestion for the construction of five cave chapels, each containing a colossal image of the Buddha. The early caves feature static icons in a Gandharan (Indian) style. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.oxfordartonline.com/ (accessed 5/9/2011)en_US
dc.format.mediumsandstone; polychrome (mineral pigment paint)en_US
dc.rights© Scott Gilchrist, Archivision, Inc.en_US
dc.subjectarchitectureen_US
dc.subjectdecorative artsen_US
dc.subjectdeitiesen_US
dc.subjectBuddhism and art--Chinaen_US
dc.subjectSilk Roaden_US
dc.subjectBuddhist cave arten_US
dc.subjectChineseen_US
dc.subjectNorthern Weien_US
dc.titleYungang Grottoes: Cave 16en_US
dc.title.alternativeOne of the Five Caves of Tanyaoen_US
dc.title.alternative云冈石窟en_US
dc.typeimageen_US
dc.rights.accessLicensed for educational and research use by the MIT community onlyen_US
dc.identifier.vendorcode1A2-CH-D-YG-16-A24en_US
vra.culturalContextChineseen_US
vra.techniquecarving (processes), painting and painting techniquesen_US
vra.worktypesculpture (visual work)en_US
vra.worktypeshrine (structure)en_US
vra.worktyperelief (sculpture)en_US
dc.contributor.displayunknown (Chinese)en_US


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