Benevolent Sishiku: Photos, Map & Reviews [2024]

Benevolent Sishiku Highlights: Must-See Features and Attractions

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Charity Temple Grottoes is located about 3 kilometers southwest of Linyou County, Baoji, 160 kilometers away from Xi'an and 110 kilometers away from Baoji in the south. The grottoes of Cichan Temple began to be excavated in the period of Emperor Wen of Sui Dynasty, and continued in the period of Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi and Wu Zetian of Tang Dynasty, and continued to expand and repair the past temples. One of the main Buddhas of Charity Temple was excavated and engraved in Sui Dynasty. The Sui Dynasty existed for a short time, and there were few Buddhist cultural relics left. The statues in the caves of the Sui Palace, such as the main Buddha of Charity Temple, which are tall and completely preserved to this day, are very precious. In the Tang Dynasty, in addition to continuing to use the Charity Temple for Buddhist activities, some new temples were built around the Jiucheng Palace. The standing Buddha on the left and right sides of one of the caves and the standing Buddha and Bodhisattva in the other cave were all engraved in the Tang Dynasty. They are tall and exquisite, with smooth lines and a kind and amiable face. Another cave inscribed in the Tang Dynasty, the "Jing Fu Jing", is a secular Buddhist scripture that has been inscribed earlier in the country, with a larger number of preserved characters and a more complete content. The Buddha statue tiledang unearthed in Charity Temple is also very precious. Cichan Temple Grottoes now has three caves and more than 40 statues. The main Buddhas of the two caves in the north and south are all over 4.5 meters high.