John__Wong
Buddhist Grottoes at Feilai Peak besides Lingyin Temple
Hangzhou, China 2019
Feilai Peak, literally, “Peak flying from afar”, is located near Lingyin Temple, separated by a stream. The peak is of craggy limestone formation, quite different from the surrounding sandstone mountains, hence the name of the Feilai Peak (the Flying Peak). Its name is also related to a legend that the peak was thought to have flown from India, a manifestation of the omnipotence of Buddhism.
The charm of the legendary peak are the over 470 stone statues carved on its hillsides and riverbanks between the 10th and 14th centuries. 335 of the 470 Buddhist carvings are relatively well preserved. The grottoes in the Flying Peak have filled vacuum of Buddhist carvings done in the period ranging from Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (907-960) to Yuan Dynasty (1271 – 1368).
Most of the grottoes were made during Song Dynasty ( over 200 statues) and Yuan Dynasty ( 116 statues). Only a small number of the stone statues were done in Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (907-960) period. The earliest rock carving was made in 951. The Flying Peak Grottoes were representative of the Buddhist rock carvings after Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, Datong Yungang Grottoes, Tianshui Maijishan Grottoes and Luoyang Longmen Grottoes.
Buddhist Grottoes at Feilai Peak besides Lingyin Temple
Hangzhou, China 2019
Feilai Peak, literally, “Peak flying from afar”, is located near Lingyin Temple, separated by a stream. The peak is of craggy limestone formation, quite different from the surrounding sandstone mountains, hence the name of the Feilai Peak (the Flying Peak). Its name is also related to a legend that the peak was thought to have flown from India, a manifestation of the omnipotence of Buddhism.
The charm of the legendary peak are the over 470 stone statues carved on its hillsides and riverbanks between the 10th and 14th centuries. 335 of the 470 Buddhist carvings are relatively well preserved. The grottoes in the Flying Peak have filled vacuum of Buddhist carvings done in the period ranging from Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (907-960) to Yuan Dynasty (1271 – 1368).
Most of the grottoes were made during Song Dynasty ( over 200 statues) and Yuan Dynasty ( 116 statues). Only a small number of the stone statues were done in Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (907-960) period. The earliest rock carving was made in 951. The Flying Peak Grottoes were representative of the Buddhist rock carvings after Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, Datong Yungang Grottoes, Tianshui Maijishan Grottoes and Luoyang Longmen Grottoes.