The Oriental Venus and the Cliffs of Faith: Exploring Anyue Pilu Cave

The "Oriental Venus" on the Cliff

1.Located on Tazi Mountain in Shiyang: Town, Anyue County, Ziyang City, Pilu Cave (Pilu Dong) is a dazzling pearl in the crown of Chinese stone carving art. Situated approximately 50 kilometers from the Anyue county seat, this site is part of the renowned Anyue Stone Carvings, a massive collection of over 100,000 statues that bridges the artistic gap between the northern grottoes (like Yungang and Longmen) and the later Dazu Rock Carvings. Pilu Cave is celebrated not just for its religious significance as a former center of Esoteric Buddhism (Mizong) in Sichuan, but for its breathtaking artistic achievements, particularly the North Song Dynasty statue of the Purple Bamboo Guanyin (Zizhu Guanyin), which has been praised by the famous writer Han Suyin as the "Oriental Venus".

2.A Break from Tradition: The Secularized Guanyin

3.The crown jewel of Pilu: Cave is undoubtedly the Purple Bamboo Guanyin, found in the Guanyin Hall. Carved during the Northern Song Dynasty, this 3-meter-high statue represents a bold departure from traditional, solemn Buddhist iconography. Unlike the rigid, upright postures seen in earlier grottoes, this Guanyin sits casually on a lotus seat with one foot raised (a "cocked leg" posture) and the other resting on a lotus leaf, creating a look of nonchalant elegance and human charm. The figure is adorned in thin, silk-like garments that drape fluidly like "cicada wings," and wears a stunning openwork flower crown. With a slight smile and a gaze that looks down upon the secular world with compassion, this statue perfectly embodies the secularization of Song Dynasty religious art, blending divine divinity with human beauty,.

4.The "Rock Comic Strip": Liu Benzun’s Ten Austerities

5.Adjacent to the Guanyin Hall is the Liu: Benzun Ten Austerities Cave, a unique masterpiece of Esoteric Buddhism. This cave serves as a graphic biography of Liu Benzun, a Tang Dynasty layman and high monk who founded a local sect of Esoteric Buddhism. The carvings vividly depict ten scenes of his extreme ascetic practices, such as "cutting the finger," "burning the heart," and "sacrificing the arm" to demonstrate his devotion. These scenes are arranged like a "rock comic strip," combining images with text to narrate his spiritual journey. The vigorous and powerful carving style, along with the dramatic content, offers a rare glimpse into the localization of Esoteric Buddhism in Sichuan and provides invaluable historical data for religious studies,.

A Legacy of Art and Faith

Pilu Cave is composed of several key areas, including the Pilu Cave, Youju Cave, Thousand Buddha Cave, and Guanyin Hall, containing a total of 465 statues and 32 inscriptions. The site showcases a distinct transition in style: the few remaining Five Dynasties and Tang-style carvings appear full and vigorous, while the Song Dynasty works are delicate, ornate, and rich in life. Visitors can see the Western Three Saints in the Thousand Buddha Cave, surrounded by hundreds of small Buddha niches that record the names of donors, reflecting the social history of the time. The site also features elements of Three Teachings Syncretism, integrating Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian influences, such as the Jade Emperor Hall. Whether you are an art historian, a photographer chasing light and shadow, or a traveler seeking spiritual tranquility, Pilu Cave offers a profound encounter with the "Golden Age" of Sichuan stone carving,,.