History of Dazu Grottoes

AD 758 – 1279: Cliffside Sculptures of Wushan

Dazu County, built in AD 758, was under the jurisdiction of Changzhou. In AD 885, the capital of Changzhou was moved to Dazu from Nanxian. Dazu had been the capital of Changzhou from AD 885 to 1279. The Cliffside Sculptures of Wushan was completed during this 400 years.

AD 650: The Earliest Cliffside Sculptures

The earliest masterpiece of Dazu Grottoes, Jianzi Mountain Cliffside Sculptures, was begun in AD 650 (Early Tang Dynasty). Only one cliffside sculptures (Shengshui Temple) was carved 200 years after it. There are only 20 sculptures of them.

AD 907 – 965: The first climax of carvings in Dazu history

According to history records, in AD 892, the provincial governor of Changzhou, Wei Junjing, began to build Yongchang Stockade as well as Beishan Mountain Cliffside Sculptures.

After that, officials, local gentries, civilians and monks continued to build sculptures till AD 907- 965. It is called the first climax of carvings in Dazu history.

AD 1078 – 1173: The second climax of carvings in Dazu history

During AD 1078 – 1173 (Late North Song Dynasty to Early South Song Dynasty), the second climax began. There were 32 places of rock carvings built during these years. The carvings includes Confucious, Buddhist and Taoist sculptures.

Nanshan Mountain Carvings, Shimenshan Mountain Carvings and Duobao Tower of Beishan were all built during this time. The Beishan Mountain Carvings took more than 250 years.

AD 1174 – 1252: The prosperous age of Dazu Grottoes

During AD 1174 – 1252, the famous monk, Zhao Zhifeng, began to preach Buddhism at Baoding Mountain.

Meanwhile, he collected pious alms to build over 10,000 Buddhist sculptures. With his efforts, the only one large-scale grottoes was built in the history of Mi sect.

From AD 892 – 1252, 34 places of rock carvings were built. The rock carvings of this time are 80% of all carvings of Dazu.