Longmen Grottoes, where lotus never fades

( chinadaily.com.cn )

Updated: 2015-11-06

Lotus flower has always been loved and highly praised in Chinese culture as it is assumed characters of noble, peace and pure. It also has a close bound with the Buddhism. According to some Buddhism records, the Buddha Sakyamuni came down to the earth soon after his birth. He had taken seven steps towards the four directions of east, west, south and north. A lotus flower sprang up under his feet after every step he walked.

Lotus flowers [Photo / Longmen Grottoes on WeChat]

Longmen Grottoes, the sacred land for Buddhism culture is also a world of lotus, where lotus statues can be easily seen in various styles. There are statues of Buddha sitting on a lotus, Buddha wearing lotus coronet, provider holding lotus in hands, and so on.

Images of lotus in Longmen Grottoes [Photo / Longmen Grottoes on WeChat]

The most famous one is the high relief lotus with a diameter of 3 meters in Lianhua Cave.

The lotus carving at the top of Lianhua Cave, Longmen Grottoes [Photo / Longmen Grottoes on WeChat]

The lotus carvings in the Longmen are the historical heritage of cultural exchanges and integration. They embody the excellence of sculpture art as well as the sacred beauty of Buddhism culture. So, if you have missed the season when lotus blooms, why not go to the Longmen, where the never-fading flowers have been there for more than 1,000 years?

The lotus carving at the top of Binyang Middle Cave, Longmen Grottoes [Photo / Longmen Grottoes on WeChat]