Grotto No. 3
Mogao Grottoes
Terre-Cotta Army of the Qin Dynasty
Appreciation of Qing Horn Carvings (2) |
The grotto is the biggest of all grottoes in Yungang. The front edge is approximately 25m tall. The grotto is divided into front and rear chambers. In the middle of the upper part of front chamber is carved a cabinet for housing the Maitreya statue, and on both sides of which are chiselled a pair of three-tier square towers. At the western side of the southern facade of the rear chamber are carved three statues, one being a 10m tall Buddha and the remaining two 6.2m tall Bodhisattva respectively. These three statues show plump faces, sinewy muscles, fine corolla and smooth lines on the robes. Judging from the style and carving technique, these statues were possibly carved in the early Tang Dynasty. |












