The buddha cave of Yungang grottoes cave NO.7 (471-494 A.D.)rnOn both sides of the window are sculptures of pensive bhiksus in meditation under bodhi trees. in the middle of the large niche on the top level of the northern wall is the cross-ankled maitreya, flanked by sitting buddhas. the lower section was carved with statues of sakyamuni and prabhutaratna buddha sitting side by side. in the niche on the south wall are six offering celestials, with high bun on head and kneeling with one leg, charming and elegant, which are called the six beauties at yungang . they are excellent works of the sculptures from western regions mixed with oriental artistic elements , on the celling are chessboard designs in complete imitation of wooden structures. the lotus flower is surrounded by twenty-four pairs of apsaras, flying and dancing.rnThe Yungang Grottoes, in Datong city, Shanxi Province, with their 252 caves and 51,000 statues, represent the outstanding achievement of Buddhist cave art in China in the 5th and 6th centuries. The Five Caves created by Tan Yao, with their strict unity of layout and design, constitute a classical masterpiece of the first peak of Chinese Buddhist art.rn
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