南石窟寺

Nanshiku Temple

Useful Information

Location:	Jingchuan County, Pingliang, Gansu. (35.363640, 107.448547)
Open:	All year daily 8-18. [2021]
Fee:
Classification:	Cave Church
Light:	n/a
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Nanshiku Temple, Xujia Village, Jingchuan County 744313, Pingliang, Gansu.
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History

510	caves erected by Jingzhou provincial governor 奚康生 (Xi Kangsheng).
1959	rediscovered by the Gansu Provincial Museum Cultural Relics Task Force conducting a general survey of cultural relics in Longdong area.
13-FEB-1963	declared a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit by the People's Government of Gansu Province.
13-JAN-1988	listed as National key unit of the State Council People's Republic of China

Description

南石窟寺 (Nanshiku Si, South Grotto Temple) is located on the north bank of the Dongjing River in Jingchuan County. The main cave has a large space, with 7 tall Buddha statues and 13 Bodhisattvas. There are 5 caves arranged in a line from east to west.

Cave No. 1 was excavated by Jingzhou Governor 奚康生 (Xi Kangsheng) in 510. At that time, a monk rebellion broke out in Jingzhou, and the local government could not control the situation. They sent for help and Xi Kangsheng was sent to end the rebellion. It seems he ended the rebellion and many monks and nuns were killed, so he ordered the construction of the temple out of guilt. Cave No. 1 is the largest cave and is also the main cave of Nanshiku Temple. It is rectangular, with a height of 11 m, a width of 18 m, and a length of 13 m. It contains seven standing Buddha statues, 7 m high, 14 Bodhisattvas on both sides, about 3.5 m high, and a 5 m high Maitreya Bodhisattva on each side of the front wall door.

Cave 4 is a medium-sized square cave with 16 Arhats, eight Bodhisattvas, and six Lishi in rows on both sides.