Tanyao Five Grottoes

＂ Wuwu Grottoes (16～ 20 Grottoes) ＂ located in the south of Wuzhou Mountain in the western suburbs of Datong City, founded in the middle of Northern Wei (460 ～ 465 AD). It is the earliest and most ambitious cave group in Yungang. Because it is the five large grottoes that were opened under the personal auspices of the monks, it is commonly known as ＂ Wuwu Grottoes ＂. The center of each grotto is carved with a huge statue of the Buddha, and the main statues simulate the image of the emperors of the Northern Wei Dynasty Daowu, Mingyuan, Taiwu, Jingmu, Wencheng V, symbolizing the emperor of the Northern Wei Dynasty as the incarnation of the Buddha. The main dignitaries of each cave are: the 16th cave is the Buddha statue of Shi Dao, the 17th cave is the Buddha statue of Jiaotuo Bodhisattva, the 18th cave is also the Buddha statue of Shi Dao, the 19th cave is the Buddha statue of Shi Dao, the 20th cave is the Buddha statue of Shi Zen, and it is also the most famous big Buddha in Yungang Grottoes. Commonly known as: open-air Buddha.

The most eye-catching of Yungang Grottoes is the first phase of the Grottoes-Wu Grottoes. Reading the five caves (the 16-20 caves in the scenic spot), you will have a comprehensive understanding of Yungang Grottoes. (sound: Yuan Yao), the famous monks of Northern Wei, regardless of the waste, adhere to the Buddha Tao. Wen Cheng Emperor was Zhao Xuandu Tong and managed the monks. In the year460-465, he led people to open five grottoes carved with huge Buddha statues in the south of Wuzhou Mountain, opening a chapter in the construction of Yungang Grottoes. At the entrance of the scenic spot, there are statues of dragonflies to commemorate the generation of masters who left an immortal art treasure house. Building form. Located in the center of Yungang Grottoes, the Wu Grottoes have basically the same building shape: giant space, oval plane, tall dome, huge stone Buddha built on the mountain, open doors and bright windows. The reason why five grottoes were opened is that each Buddha represents both the Buddha and the specific emperor individual, and contains the meaning of praying for the Northern Wei Taizu and the five emperors after him.

"Five Grottoes": It was dug in 460 － 465 AD, and it was the first phase of Yungang Grottoes. The center of the five grottoes has carved huge statues of Buddha, symbolizing the five emperors of the Northern Wei and Wu Dynasty. Yungang Grottoes, anciently known as Wuzhou Mountain (Wuzhou Mountain) Grottoes, are a royal monastery opened by the Northern Wei royal family. It is located in the south foot of Wuzhou Mountain, 16 kilometers west of Datong City. It is the traffic road from Inner Mongolia to Shanxi, that is, the only way to Shengle to Pingcheng.

昙曜五窟（16-20窟）是云岗开凿最早，气魄最宏大的窟群。五窟六窟毗连成一组双窟，规模宏伟，雕饰瑰丽，技法熟练，为云冈艺术之精华。洞窟呈椭圆形平面设计，窟内宽敞，主要造像占去大部分面积。其中第16窟是一个以伎乐驰名的洞窟，中间巨佛立于莲柱上，昂首挺胸，气概非凡，被西方游客誉为"美男子"，或英俊清秀，或肃穆端庄，或披千佛袈裟而立，或合十而坐。周壁有千佛、佛龛。这些造像，神情生动，姿态美妙，或吹笛，或弹琵琶，令人叹为观止。而第20窟露天大佛结跏跌坐，被称为云冈石刻的象征。佛像为释迦坐像，高13.7米，胸以上因石质坚硬，保存完好。造型古朴硕大，两肩宽厚，袈裟右袒，面形丰圆，薄唇高鼻，神情肃穆。背光的大焰纹和坐佛、飞天等浮雕十分华美，把主佛衬托得更加刚健雄浑，为云冈石窟中的代表作品。石窟前有清顺治八年所建五间四层木构楼阁，琉璃瓦顶，颇为壮观。

The five caves, which are the 16th to 20th caves of Yungang Grottoes, are the earliest, largest and most powerful caves opened in Yungang Grottoes. They are located in the center of Yungang Grottoes, and the Buddha statues are very large and very spectacular.