Over 1,000 ancient Buddha statues uncovered in China

[WisdomBeing]

This is a great find which confirms that Buddhism has been in China for a long time, despite the cultural revolution's attempt to destroy this legacy. I hope these statues will not just be seen as historic but of great religious significance.


Over 1,000 ancient Buddha statues uncovered in China
http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/over-1000-ancient-buddha-statues-uncovered-china-001637



10 MAY, 2014 - 03:10 APRIL HOLLOWAY


Archaeologists have discovered more than 1,000 ancient Buddha statues in three stone caves on a cliff-face in Yangqu County, in north China's Shanxi Province, according to a report in China.org.cn.  Although official dating has not yet been carried out, it is believed that the statues date back to the Ming Dynasty.

The Ming dynasty, was the ruling dynasty of China for 276 years (1368–1644 AD) following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming, described by some as "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic Han Chinese. The creation of stone Buddha statues reached its peak during the period from the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589) to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), so it is rare to find stone Buddha statues from the Ming Dynasty.

According to traditional accounts, Buddhism was introduced in China during the Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) after an emperor dreamed of a flying golden man thought to be the Buddha. Although the archaeological record confirms that Buddhism was introduced sometime during the Han dynasty, it did not flourish in China until the Six Dynasties period (220-589 AD). The year 67 CE saw Buddhism's official introduction to China with the coming of the two monks Moton and Chufarlan.

The latest finding including stone statues carved into the cave walls and measuring 12 to 25 centimetres long, said Yang Jifu, director of the county's cultural heritage tourism bureau. Yang said two of the caves had been restored in the Ming Dynasty, according to the record on two steles in the caves.

While the discovery is rare and significant, it is not unheard of.  More than 2,000 statues were found in a temple in China's Hebei Province in the 1950s, and in 2012, archaeologists uncovered more than 3,000 Buddha statues, which was the largest discovery of artifacts since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. 
The most recent discovery will contribute to the research on the development and change in religious art in northern ancient China.

Featured image: One of the 3,000 Buddha statues uncovered in 2012. Credit: Sun Zifa/ImagineChina

[eyesoftara]

Incredible and it is a sign of Buddhism's revival in China. It is as though 1000 Buddhas come out of the earth. To me it is auspicious. LOL.  Perhaps also the times and conditions in China is ripe for the adoption of the Buddhism as the major religion like it used to be. Also, in this materialistic world where China is at the fore front, the Buddhas blesses those that needed it the most but of course for that to happen one need the merits. For me this is evident that China needs Buddhism and also has the merits for it. I rejoice.

[Kim Hyun Jae]

Whenever I come across a new discovery of another ancient buried site of the discovery of Buddha statues, I am once more fascinated by the spread of Buddhism in ancient kingdoms, like China.

For a dynasty and its kingdom to embrace Buddhism, it must have given much blessings, merits, immense joy and happiness to the ancient people then.

I rejoice in these ancient archaeological findings and hope they will be put into public display in museums to be shared with the world to admire, respect and be inspired to find out more about Buddhism.

[Midakpa]

This is indeed an event for much rejoicing. The statues had been buried or hidden during the cultural revolution and had escaped destruction. Now they will be uncovered and preserved by the present Chinese government that practises the policy of preserving the ancient Buddha statues.

Buddhism entered China and developed in Southern and Central China in the fourth and early fifth century AD. From that time onward the influence of Buddhism gradually manifests itself in many fields of Chinese culture. Chinese scholars who study these statues will learn a lot about the practice of Buddhism at that particular point in time.

[grandmapele]

Interesting that the statues are starting to be 'found' now. Does this herald the renaissance of Buddhism in China? WOw, the collective merits that abounds for this to happen! Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice

[kris]

Rejoice. This is indeed great news that ancient statues are being discovered, and I do hope more and more statues and relics will be discovered.

From the history, it is also common that Buddhism is being used as the guiding principals for many emperors and "governments", which lead to many many years of harmony and prosperity. Just like in this era, many corporations like Google are employing Buddhism ethics and principals.

[Galen]

This is great news that so many Buddha images has been found. With the findings of these priceless artefacts, let's hope that the practice of Buddhism will increase in China and not just the chase for materialism. And that these statues will not fall into the hands of those who just wants to make a quick buck.

[bambi]

Interesting! Imagine all the lost precious items that are still buried out there.
Many archeologists are looking for lost sites and dinosaurs but here we are in China only uncovering Buddha statues. But somehow more interesting findings!

Now the interesting part is why were they left or buried there? Were they there to be buried with someone important? Was there a temple there?

[brian]

I think this is interesting finding. I never doubt of such things as Buddha statues being found in various parts of the world. It is possible Buddhist statues to be in all parts of the world. So for something like this in China there could be signalling Buddhism has already flourished in China long long ago.   

[maricisun]

Incredible finding of yet another 1,000 ancient Buddha statues in China. And it has dated back long ago which means Buddhism has flourish in China for a long time.
Hopefully the statues will be well preserved and either become a tourist site for religious pilgrimage or be kept in a museum for all to see.
Rejoice for the statues to be uncovered and the people to find it actually has the merits to discovere the statues too.

[dondrup]

It is truly the blessings from the Buddhas that these ancient Buddha statues had not been destroyed during the cultural revolution that had caused China to lose so much of its heritage. Recent discoveries of similar artifacts in China augur well the development of Buddhism in China.  May this lead to greater interest in Tibetan Buddhism and the practice of Dorje Shugden in China.

[Matibhadra]

It is truly the blessings from the Buddhas that these ancient Buddha statues had not been destroyed during the cultural revolution that had caused China to lose so much of its heritage.

The Cultural Revolution in China was destructive indeed, as it was rooted in the barbarian Jewish-Marxist ideology of destroying the religion, culture and tradition of the peoples in order better to dominate them. The same ideology was promoted by other Jewish-Marxist movements such as the Sendero Luminoso in Peru, the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia and so forth.

Besides, the wholesale destruction of traditional cultures and historical relics has been perpetrated for the last 2000 years, in Europe, Central Asia, Americas and elsewhere, not by China, but by Christianity and Islam, both offshots of Judaism and supporting the same genocidal and cultural genocidal views as their root ideology.

”Although being undertaken by some of the Revolution's enthusiastic followers, the destruction of historical relics was never formally sanctioned by the Communist Party, whose official policy was instead to protect such items. Indeed, on May 14, 1967, the CCP central committee issued a document entitled Several suggestions for the protection of cultural relics and books during the Cultural Revolution.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_Revolution#Historical_relics

Therefore, one would better abandon the vicious, media-instigated, China-hating attitude, and clearly realize who the real enemies of humankind, human culture, traditions and values are.