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Huangze Monastery Rock Sculptures

The Huangze Monastery rock sculptures are located in Guangyuan, Sichuan, China, on the west bank of the Jialing River at the foot of Wulongshan Mountain. The monastery was originally built during the Tang dynasty under Empress Wu Zetian and also in the Northern and Southern Dynasties period. Its former names were Wunu Monastery and Chuanzhu Temple, while the present monastery buildings date from the Qing dynasty. Behind the monastery, several dozen grottoes in the cliff contain artistically valuable sculptures from the Northern Zhou, Sui, and Song dynasties. Since 1961, the site has been listed as a cultural relic of the People’s Republic of China in Sichuan.

Ancient rock carvings at Huangze Monastery, including a large central haloed statue surrounded by smaller figures in a cave-like recess.
Huangze Monastery rock sculptures with a central haloed figure and surrounding carved attendants.
February 2015 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
A gilded seated statue with a crown and ornate robes displayed against a carved blue and red backdrop at Huangze Monastery Rock Sculptures.
A gilded seated figure on display at Huangze Monastery Rock Sculptures, set before a carved blue and red backdrop.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0
Huangze Monastery rock sculptures carved into cave walls beside a visitor platform with red pillars
Buddhist rock carvings at Huangze Monastery, seen from a viewing platform with red pillars.
June 2010 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Huangze Monastery rock sculptures along a stone wall beside a tree-lined pathway
The Huangze Monastery rock sculptures run along a stone wall beside a paved path under dense trees.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0
Huangze Monastery entrance with red columns, hanging lanterns, and a stone staircase against a rocky mountainside.
The entrance to Huangze Monastery stands beside a rugged cliff face, reached by a broad stone staircase.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0
Weathered stone stele with Chinese inscriptions at the top of stone steps, surrounded by green foliage at Huangze Monastery.
A weathered inscribed stone stele stands at the top of steps at Huangze Monastery, surrounded by trees and greenery.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0
Stone monument at Huangze Monastery Rock Sculptures with bright teal Chinese characters carved into the surface
A stone inscription at the Huangze Monastery Rock Sculptures, shown outdoors with foliage in the background.
February 2015 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
A weeping willow beside a green pond with a traditional tiled-roof structure and railing at Huangze Monastery Rock Sculptures.
A tranquil pond scene at Huangze Monastery Rock Sculptures, with a weeping willow and a traditional pavilion-style structure.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0

Identification

NameHuangze Temple
Original Chinese name皇泽寺
PinyinHuangzesi
Alternative namesHuangze Monastery; Thousand-Buddha cliff statues of Guangyuan
Former and historical namesWunu Monastery (Wunu si, 乌奴寺); Chuanzhu Temple (Chuanzhu miao, 川主庙); Wunusi (乌奴寺); Chuanzhu miao (川主庙)
TypeBuddhist temple; Buddhist temple with carved stone Buddhist sculptures; cliff sculptures / grotto sculptures

Location

LocationGuangyuan, Sichuan Province, China; west of Guangyuan, along the banks of the Jialing River, at the foot of Wulong Mountain
Specific settingOn the west bank of the Jialing River at the foot of Wulongshan Mountain; on the west bank of the Jialing River, at the foot of Wulongshan
Part ofHuangze Monastery
Nearby siteClose to the Thousand-Buddha Cliff

Discovery and provenance

Protection site namesHuangze si moya zaoxiang; Guangyuan Qianfoya moya zaoxiang

Historical context

Founding periodFounded during the time of Empress Wu Zetian (624–705); built during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian in the Tang dynasty; during the Northern and Southern Dynasties
Associated dynasties / periodsNorthern Zhou dynasty; Sui dynasty; Song dynasty; Northern Wei period; Ming period; Qing period
Creation periodfrom the Northern Wei period to the Ming and Qing periods
Dating of the cave sculpturesNorthern Zhou dynasty (557–581); Sui dynasty (581–618); Song dynasty (960–1279)
Monastery construction periodsBuilt during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian in the Tang dynasty and during the Northern and Southern Dynasties

Creator

Dedicated toWu Zetian
Founding associationWu Zetian was originally from this province

Physical characteristics

Number of grottoesSeveral dozen
Number of cavesSeveral dozen caves
Cliff carvings6 caves, 41 niches, and 1,203 sculptures on a cliff
Notable sculptural featuresMany carved Buddhas in the stone mountain behind the cloister

Materials

MaterialStone

Appearance

DescriptionCarved Buddhas; carved stone Buddhist sculptures

Iconography and meaning

Uniquenessthe only temple dedicated to Wu Zetian

Significance

Artistic valueThe sculptures are described as artistically valuable
Heritage statusListed as a historic monument (1-43) since 1961
DesignationMajor National Historical and Cultural Site
Designation date1961
Tourist statusAAAA-level tourist attraction

History and restoration

Current buildings date fromQing dynasty (1644–1912)
Protection statusSince 1961, listed among the cultural relics of Sichuan Province of the People's Republic of China
Protection list numbers1-43 and 1-44