Longmen Grotto

• Although there are many grottoes in China there are four main sites known as the four grottoes. Longmen is one of the most well-known sites of grotto art in China. Like all grottoes, the work depicts religious as well as domestic life in ancient China. The Longmen Grotto reflects the heyday of the Tang Dynasty culture and contains the largest and most impressive collection of Chinese art. The art of stone caving was highly valued in ancient China and the carved stone statues reflect the very finest examples of this. As well as the carved statues, the grottoes also contain examples of calligraphy and historical materials concerning art, history, music and medicine.