Yungang Caves

There are several cave complexes in China containing Buddhist iconography.  Yungang Caves are interesting because they date from the 5th century and differ from the sinicized later Buddhist images.  Hence the Indian influence, from whence Buddhism originated, is very obvious.  (You can see I have been intently listening to our lecturer!)

Some pictures.

General view of the caves.

Some entrances are built up.

The caves contain carvings - many carved our of "living" stone - ie carved out of the existing stone.  Here is an example of a column.  It gores from the floor to the ceiling.

Another image of Buddha.  Managed to get this when the "no photography" attendant wasn't looking.

Another surreptitiously obtained photograph of the decorations inside a cave.  Some are more elaborate than others.

And every Buddhist complex has to have a Big Buddha.