ABSTRACT
The first-phase cave temples are symbols of the imperial rulers of the Northern Wei. They are the earliest colossal statue cave temples in Yungang. Inside each of them is a giant Buddha image occupying most of the space. The Weishu records that shamentong Tanyao suggested to the emperor that five cave temples be excavated to the west of the capital soon after the restoration of Buddhism in 452. All the cave temples are elliptical in plan like a horseshoe with a colossal Buddha image in the center of the main wall. The giant Buddha image forms the focus of each cave. The east, west, and north walls lean forward and become narrower as they ascend upward towards the ceiling. The famed architect Liang Sicheng surmised, long before the tent models were unearthed, that the imperial five might be the unique creation of Tanyao, the monks, and local artisans of Pingcheng.
