Dazu Rock Carvings Guide: Shichuan Mountain

Shichuan Mountain One of the five mountains of Dazu Rock Carvings Even Chongqing locals haven't heard of, let alone visited, this place. A national heritage site hidden in the mountains, it has been closed for years and was previously only open to experts and scholars. Now it's finally open to the public. The Shichuan Mountain grotto statues have niche themes and are very secular, with a unique blend of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. 🗿About Shichuan Mountain Carved during the Song Dynasty Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism coexist on the mountain The statues depict a wide variety of deities, including local gods, mountain gods, vajras, warriors, ghosts, holy mothers, medicine kings, Confucius, Lao-tzu, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra. The Song Dynasty was truly a free, inclusive, and open era. 📸Highlights ✅Confucius and His Ten Disciples Niche (Wenxuanwang Niche): Confucius and his ten disciples. A rare depiction of Confucius in a grotto, showing how handsome he was in his youth. ✅Vairocana, Sakyamuni, and Maitreya Niche: The patrons placed statues of themselves and their wives in the corners on both sides of the Buddha statues, showcasing their financial contributions. ✅Ksitigarbha and the Ten Kings of Hell Niche: A collection of all the villains from the first level of hell. ✅Lao-tzu Niche: Seven real people on each side, with guardian deities in front of the niche. ✅Hariti Niche: Featuring the goddess Hariti, also known as the "giver of children" in folklore. The statue is very secular and down-to-earth. ✅Manjushri and Samantabhadra Niche: The image of the attendant is very similar to Sun Wukong (the Monkey King). ✅Luban Niche: Some also say it depicts a monk. 📌Tips: Transportation is inconvenient, and it's far from the core area of Dazu Rock Carvings. Driving is recommended. It's a must-visit for grotto enthusiasts who are determined to see all five mountains of Dazu Rock Carvings. There is also the provincially protected Thousand Buddha Cliff, with Ming Dynasty statues, one kilometer from Shichuan Mountain. Unfortunately, I couldn't find it. I even fell into an abandoned ancient tomb in the wilderness. Exploring ancient sites is not easy.