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Built in the Tang Dynasty, the Stone Buddha Temple is a cave temple for the reclusion and self-cultivation of prominent monks and noble men. It houses a statue of Sakyamuni sitting cross-legged on the lotus throne.
According to The Toponymy of Yanqing County, the Stone Buddha Temple is located in the southeast of Donggou Village, Xibazi Township, about 13 kilometers south of the county seat. It is surrounded by hills and close to a gate tower of the ancient Great Wall in the south.
The Stone Buddha Cave is a natural cave, 2 meters high, 4.7 meters wide, and 7 meters long, with a 2.85-meter high stone Buddha sitting inside. Vivid and unique, the stone Buddha serves as an exquisite example of Chinese stone carving art, giving Stone Buddha Temple its name.
According to The Records of the West Passes, the Stone Buddha Temple was 25 li northwest of the Juyongguan Pass. The dates of construction and abandonment of the temple could not be found in historical records, however the Buddha is inscribed with “4th year of Kaitaimingchang of the Liao Dynasty” (1015), the cave is inscribed with “the 1st year of Mingchang of the Jin Dynasty” (1190), and the walls are inscribed with “the 11th year of Dade of the Yuan Dynasty” (1307). Therefore, it is assumed that this ancient Buddhist temple was built during the Tang Dynasty.
Built in the Tang Dynasty, the Stone Buddha Temple is a cave temple for the reclusion and self-cultivation of prominent monks and noble men. It houses a statue of Sakyamuni sitting cross-legged on the lotus throne.
According to The Toponymy of Yanqing County, the Stone Buddha Temple is located in the southeast of Donggou Village, Xibazi Township, about 13 kilometers south of the county seat. It is surrounded by hills and close to a gate tower of the ancient Great Wall in the south.
The Stone Buddha Cave is a natural cave, 2 meters high, 4.7 meters wide, and 7 meters long, with a 2.85-meter high stone Buddha sitting inside. Vivid and unique, the stone Buddha serves as an exquisite example of Chinese stone carving art, giving Stone Buddha Temple its name.
According to The Records of the West Passes, the Stone Buddha Temple was 25 li northwest of the Juyongguan Pass. The dates of construction and abandonment of the temple could not be found in historical records, however the Buddha is inscribed with “4th year of Kaitaimingchang of the Liao Dynasty” (1015), the cave is inscribed with “the 1st year of Mingchang of the Jin Dynasty” (1190), and the walls are inscribed with “the 11th year of Dade of the Yuan Dynasty” (1307). Therefore, it is assumed that this ancient Buddhist temple was built during the Tang Dynasty.
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