On The Distribution Of The Northern Dynasties Cave Temples Based On The Samples In The Shanxi, Henan And Hebei Areas

Originated in ancient India,spreaded to the Western China at the occasion of Two Han Dynasties, the Buddhist cave temples got to spread eastward since then. By the time of the Northern Dynasties, they were widely distributed in most northern China areas, and were mostly chiseled around the center of Buddhism. Before the batttle of Pingliang, the Northen Buddhism center is Liangzhou and XI’an. After that, the center moved to the capital city of Ping. Later when the capital of Northern Wei Dynasty moved to Luoyang, the center moved along with it. At the time when the Northern Wei Dynasty was sepereted into the Eastern and Western Wei, City Ye and Chang’an both became the new Buddhism centers. Based on the Buddhism centers of different times, the chiseling of cave temples embrace an unprecedented prosperous stage in the Shanxi, Henan and Hebei Areas. By analying over fiftyhistorical remains of Northern Dynastiescave temples, this paper summarized their distibution pattens: the cave temples were mostly chiseled along the transit Lines. Based on the Buddhism centers,they were Located in the secluded mountains. Taking the local natural environment, traffic conditions, Buddhist foundation, economic demographic situation, as well as Buddhist rulers policy and many other factors into consideration, this was a result of combined effects.