Five Caves of Tan Yao (460-465)
|  | Cave 16 (1)
between 460 and 465
Cave 16 to 20 are the five earliest caves in Yungang grotto site, which were constructed under the supervision of the monk Tanyao during the reign of He Ping (A.D. 460-465) of emperor Wen Cheng.
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|  | Cave 17 (1)
between 460 and 465
The crossed-legged Maitreya, 15.6 meters high, is carved on the north wall, a seated Buddha on the east wall, a seated Buddha on the west wall, which are generally names "Trikala Buddhas".
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|  | Cave 18 (2)
between 460 and 465
The main images are the Trikala Buddhas. The Sakyamuni Buddha, 15.5 meters high, on the north wall wears a kasaya with a design of thousand Buddhas.
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|  | Cave 19 (3)
between 460 and 465
The main images are the Trikala Buddhas. The seated Sakyamuni in the main cave is 18.8 meters high, the second largest in the Yungang caves. Wearing a well-decorated kasaya, he has a squarely-round face, broad shoulders and long ear lobes down to his shoulders.
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|  | Cave 20 (2)
between 460 and 465
The statues are not longer roofed over due to the collapse of its front wall before the Liao Dynasty. The main images are the Trikala Buddhas (Buddhas of the past, present and future).
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Grottoes of the middle period (c 471-94 CE)
|  | Cave 1 (4)
between 470 and 493
Cave 1 and cave 2 form a pair of Buddhist cave temples. In the center of cave 1 is carved a square pillar in the shape of a two-storeyed pagoda. The main statue on the back wall is Maitreya.
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|  | Cave 2 (2)
between 470 and 493
The design and the form of cave 1 are similar to those of cave 1. A pillar in the shape of a three-storeyed pagoda stands in the center. The eaves are carved in between every two storeys of the stone pagoda.
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|  | Cave 3 (1)
This is the largest of all the caves in Yungang. I was named Lingyan Temple in the past. The face of the cliff is about 25 meters high. The construction started in the Northern Wei period.
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|  | Cave 5 (1)
between 470 and 493
Cave 5 forms a pair with cave 6, and each has the front and back chambers. The main statue in the back chamber of cave 5 shows the Trikala Buddhas. The seated statue of Sakyamuni, 17 meters high in the middle of the northern wall is the largest Buddha in the Yungang caves.
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|  | Cave 6 (10)
between 470 and 493
In the center of the back chamber stands a square pillar in the shape of a two-storeyed pagoda, which reaches up to the ceiling.
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|  | Cave 7 (4)
between 470 and 493
The cave 7 forms a pair with cave 8. In the front of this cave is a three-storeyed wooden structure. Cave 7 has front and back chambers. The main statues on the upper section on the north wall in back chamber are the Trikala Buddhas.
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|  | Cave 8 (4)
between 470 and 493
The design and the form of this cave are similar to those of cave 7. The celestial guardians are carved on the two reveals of the entrance.
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|  | Cave 9 and 10
between 470 and 493
Cave 9 forms a pair with cave 10, and also consists of the front and back chambers. On the south wall of the front chamber are carved octagonal pillars.
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|  | Cave 11 (4)
between 470 and 493
In the center of this cave stands a square pagoda-pillar with niches and statues on each of the four sides of both upper and lower sections. Apart from the image of Maitreya in the upper niche on the south side, the others are all the statues of standing Sakyamuni.
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|  | Cave 12 (1)
between 470 and 493
The cave is divided into the front and back chambers. The outer wall surface of the front chamber is carved with wood-imitated roofs and eaves as well as four columns, thus resembling a three-room hall.
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|  | Cave 13 (2)
between 470 and 493
The main image is a cross-legged Maitreya, wearing a jeweled crown, a bracelet and a snake-shaped necklace. His right arm is supported from underneath by Vajra. Above the entrance of the south wall are the sculptured figures of seven standing Buddhas, wearing loose gowns with wide ribbons. On each reveal of the window is a Bodhisattva with plump and strong body in exquisite craftsmanship.
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Grottoes of the late period (494-525 CE)
|  | Cave 14
between 494 and 525
The four pillars inside the cave have collapsed. Only the west wall has been survived and kept in a fairly food condition, which shows a carved building in a shape of a one-storeyed pagoda, and depicts the story of Vimalakirti.
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|  | Cave 15
The cave, rectangularly shaped in plane, enjoys the reputation of a "Thousand Buddha Cave". as it is carved with Buddhist images all over its surface walls.
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