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CHINA-DUDDHIST CLIFF-DISCOVERY
Over 900-yr-old Buddhist cliff carvings found in north China
SHIJIAZHUANG, Dec, 25, 2020 (BSS/XINHUA) – A group of Buddhist cliff
carvings created during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) have been discovered in
north China’s Hebei Province, according to local archaeologists.
Found near Cejing Village in the city of Shahe, the carvings are on the
north side of a mountain. A total of 23 Buddha figures were carved, with the
largest one standing 1.5 meters tall in the center.
Archaeologists believe the largest figure dates back to 1078, based on the
inscriptions on two carved stone tablets flanking the Buddha figures.
The carvings are of high historical and artistic values, and the finding
will provide new materials for research on Buddhism in the area, said Han
Zhigang, director of the cultural relics preservation institute of Shahe.
Han added that the inscriptions on the stone tablets also bear significant
research value for understanding calligraphy in the Song Dynasty.
BSS/XINHUA/GMR/1214 hrs