North Binyang Cave

File:Longmen-binyang-north-cave-wideshot.jpg

North Binyang Cave interior. The rear and north walls are visible. (May, 2004)

North Binyang Cave (simplified Chinese: 宾阳北洞; traditional Chinese: 賓陽北洞; pinyin: Bīnyáng Běi Dòng) is cave number 104 at the Longmen Grottoes near Luoyang, Henan, China.

History

Initiated by order of Emperor Xuanwu of the Northern Wei in honour of his parents Emperor Xiaowen and Empress Wenzhao, the cave was not completed until the Tang.

Features

The main image is an Amitabha with a patterned halo. Dragon-head shaped column bases dating from the Northern Wei flank the cave entrance. Other figures are also present (possibly bodhisattvas).

Nearby caves

Middle Binyang Cave and South Binyang Cave are adjacent to the south.

Images

• North Binyang Cave.JPG

  North Binyang Cave rear wall

• Longmen-binyang-north-cave-roof.jpg

  Detail of roof adjoining southern wall (2004)

• Longmen-binyang-north-cave-south-wall.jpg

  The south wall showing standing figures (2004)