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Yuanjue Cave 圓覺洞, Yuanjue dong 圓覺洞 Anderl, Christoph

Description

The Yuanjue Cave (Yuanjue dong 圓覺洞) is a Buddhist cave situated in Yuanjue dong 圓覺洞 Anyue xian 安岳縣, Sichuan sheng 四川省. According to the dedicatory inscription, the cave dates back to year 1198. On the central altar are placed three buddhas flanked by six bodhisattvas on each side. Though modern restorations don't facilitate the process of identification of the statues, the three Buddhas may stand as a representation of the Buddhist doctrinal teaching of the three bodies of the Buddha (Skt. trikāya; Ch. sanshen 三身), while the twelve Bodhisattvas, based on the dedicatory inscription, can be identified as the Twelve Perfect Enlightened Bodhisattvas (Ch. Yuanjue pusa 圓覺菩薩). The inscription on the left-hand side measures 102 cm high, and 60 cm in width, and its full transcription can be found in Lei et al. (2013), p. 376. An overview of the Yuanjue Cave [1]. An overview of the east wall of the cave [2]. An overview of the west wall of the cave [3]. An overview of the two inscriptions on the west wall [4]. A close-up view of the right inscription (illegible) on the east wall [5]. The “Yuanjue dong” 圓覺洞" inscription on the east wall [6] and its details [7]. Two modern introductory panels of the Yuanjue Cave [8][9]. References: Chengdu wenwu kaogu yanjiusuo 成都文物考古研究所, Beijing daxue Zhongguo kaogu yanjiu zhongxin 北京大學中國考古學研究中心, and Anyue xian wenwuju 安岳縣文物局, 2013: “Sichuan Anyue xian Yuanjue dong moya shike zaoxiang diaocha baogao" 四川安岳縣圓覺洞摩崖石刻造像調查報告 in Sichuan daxue bowuguan 四川大學博物館, Sichuan daxue kaoguxue xi 四川大學考古學系, and Chengdu wenwu kaogu yanjiusuo 成都文物考古研究所 (eds) Nanfang minzu kaogu 南方民族考古 vol. 9. Beijing: Kexue chubanshe, pp. 374–76. Lei Yuhua 雷玉华, Wang Jianping 王剑平, Lu Yinke 卢引科, Fu Chengjin 付成金, Liu Jian 刘健 and Li Chongfen 李崇峰, 2013: "Sichuan Anyue Yuanjue dong moya shike zaoxiang diaocha baogao 四川安岳县圆觉洞摩崖石刻造像调查报告", in Nanfang Minzu Kaogu 南方民族考古 [Southern Ethonology and Archeology], pp. 365-449. Metadata created by: Yalin Du, Sijia Li, Clara Ma, Jie Zhang.

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