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Southern Xiangtangshan, Cave 5, walls

Work Description: Outside the entrance to Cave 5, there are traces of columns supported formerly on the backs of lions. In addition, a row of post holes in front of Caves 4-6 suggest that there was formerly a wooden porch that extended in front of these caves. The interior of Cave 5 has niches cut into three walls, each with a seated Buddha and enough space for a pair of standing attendant figures. The Buddhas are largely intact though missing their heads. However, the freestanding attendant figures have been removed. Small relief sculptures on the upper part of the cave refer to scenes of the life of the Buddha. The parinirvana or death of the Buddha appears above the door. On the ceiling, a lotus flower appears in relief around which small flying divinities; most of them have been cut away.

Southern Xiangtangshan, Cave 5, ceiling

Work Description: Outside the entrance to Cave 5, there are traces of columns supported formerly on the backs of lions. In addition, a row of post holes in front of Caves 4-6 suggest that there was formerly a wooden porch that extended in front of these caves. The interior of Cave 5 has niches cut into three walls, each with a seated Buddha and enough space for a pair of standing attendant figures. The Buddhas are largely intact though missing their heads. However, the freestanding attendant figures have been removed. Small relief sculptures on the upper part of the cave refer to scenes of the life of the Buddha. The parinirvana or death of the Buddha appears above the door. On the ceiling, a lotus flower appears in relief around which small flying divinities; most of them have been cut away.

Southern Xiangtangshan, Cave 6, exterior

Work Description: The entrance to Cave 6 has a large niche of the Sui dynasty carved on both sides. Other smaller carvings of later periods appear on the façade and on the front of the altar inside. The altar extends around three walls of Cave 6 still has most of the original thrones and pedestals of the sculptural figures remaining. These preserve the positions of the sculpted images in the cave and show that many were free-standing figures. Unlike the principle images at Northern Xiangtangshan, many of the sculptures at this site were carved outside of the caves perhaps in workshops and the finished sculptures placed into the caves. Historic photographs provide evidence of the appearance of some of the original groups of sculptures, though some were repaired by that time already. Fragments of the seated Buddhas and bodhisattvas still remain at the site though their heads have been taken.

Southern Xiangtangshan, Cave 6, exterior

Work Description: The entrance to Cave 6 has a large niche of the Sui dynasty carved on both sides. Other smaller carvings of later periods appear on the façade and on the front of the altar inside. The altar extends around three walls of Cave 6 still has most of the original thrones and pedestals of the sculptural figures remaining. These preserve the positions of the sculpted images in the cave and show that many were free-standing figures. Unlike the principle images at Northern Xiangtangshan, many of the sculptures at this site were carved outside of the caves perhaps in workshops and the finished sculptures placed into the caves. Historic photographs provide evidence of the appearance of some of the original groups of sculptures, though some were repaired by that time already. Fragments of the seated Buddhas and bodhisattvas still remain at the site though their heads have been taken.

Southern Xiangtangshan, Cave 6, altar base figures

Work Description: The entrance to Cave 6 has a large niche of the Sui dynasty carved on both sides. Other smaller carvings of later periods appear on the façade and on the front of the altar inside. The altar extends around three walls of Cave 6 still has most of the original thrones and pedestals of the sculptural figures remaining. These preserve the positions of the sculpted images in the cave and show that many were free-standing figures. Unlike the principle images at Northern Xiangtangshan, many of the sculptures at this site were carved outside of the caves perhaps in workshops and the finished sculptures placed into the caves. Historic photographs provide evidence of the appearance of some of the original groups of sculptures, though some were repaired by that time already. Fragments of the seated Buddhas and bodhisattvas still remain at the site though their heads have been taken.

Southern Xiangtangshan, Cave 6, altar base figures

Work Description: The entrance to Cave 6 has a large niche of the Sui dynasty carved on both sides. Other smaller carvings of later periods appear on the façade and on the front of the altar inside. The altar extends around three walls of Cave 6 still has most of the original thrones and pedestals of the sculptural figures remaining. These preserve the positions of the sculpted images in the cave and show that many were free-standing figures. Unlike the principle images at Northern Xiangtangshan, many of the sculptures at this site were carved outside of the caves perhaps in workshops and the finished sculptures placed into the caves. Historic photographs provide evidence of the appearance of some of the original groups of sculptures, though some were repaired by that time already. Fragments of the seated Buddhas and bodhisattvas still remain at the site though their heads have been taken.

Southern Xiangtangshan, Cave 6, interior

Work Description: The entrance to Cave 6 has a large niche of the Sui dynasty carved on both sides. Other smaller carvings of later periods appear on the façade and on the front of the altar inside. The altar extends around three walls of Cave 6 still has most of the original thrones and pedestals of the sculptural figures remaining. These preserve the positions of the sculpted images in the cave and show that many were free-standing figures. Unlike the principle images at Northern Xiangtangshan, many of the sculptures at this site were carved outside of the caves perhaps in workshops and the finished sculptures placed into the caves. Historic photographs provide evidence of the appearance of some of the original groups of sculptures, though some were repaired by that time already. Fragments of the seated Buddhas and bodhisattvas still remain at the site though their heads have been taken.