South Site | Cave 7

Cave 7 is the best preserved of the caves at the Southern Xiangtangshan site, with the exterior displaying architectural features based on wood post and lintel architecture rendered in stone. The porch in front has a stone eave and tiled roof supported on columns and brackets. At the top is a domed roof. Two muscular lishi-type guardian figures stand in the porch on either side of the entrance to the cave. The principal sculpted figures inside the cave, five in each of the three niches, are still largely in place, though most are missing their heads. The seated Buddhas, standing bodhisattvas, and disciples were carved in one piece with the cave walls and thrones (with the exception of one of the Buddhas), and thus were not easily removed. Carvings on the front of the altars include incense burners, lions and nature spirits known as Spirit Kings, as seen at Northern Xiangtangshan. In addition many rows of small “thousand Buddhas” appear on the walls behind the main images and from the front wall around the entrance. On the ceiling, heavenly musicians encircle a central lotus blossom carved in relief.

Cave 7 exterior, carved stone columns, brackets, and eave

Xiangtangshan Cave 7 exterior, carved stone columns, brackets, and eave

Cave 7 porch, guardian figure and column supported on the back of a lion

Xiangtangshan Cave 7 porch, guardian figure and column supported on lion

Cave 7 porch, column supported by a lion

Xiangtangshan Cave 7 porch, column supported by a lion

Cave 7 domed roof

Xiangtangshan Cave 7 domed roof

Cave 7 interior, back wall altar

Xiangtangshan Cave 7 interior, back wall altar

Cave 7 interior, front wall with Thousand Buddhas

Xiangtangshan Cave 7 interior, front wall with Thousand Buddhas

Cave 7 left wall

Xiangtangshan Cave 7 left wall

Cave 7 right wall

Xiangtangshan Cave 7 right wall

Cave 7 detail of bodhisattva on the back wall

Xiangtangshan Cave 7 detail of bodhisattva on the back wall

Cave 7 ceiling

Xiangtangshan Cave 7 ceiling