On August 16,an exhibition of Dazu rock carvings titled‘The World of Dazu — Discovery and Inheritance of Dazu Rock Carvings’was kicked off at Chengdu's Jinsha Site Museum.More than 90 exhibits on display revealed the aesthetic connotation,advanced carving technology and cultural preservation elements of Dazu Rock Carvings.

The World of Dazu’exhibition site (photo/Sichuan Daily)

Dazu Rock Carvings are rock carvings found in the hillsides of Dazu district in Chongqing city that date back to between the 9th and the 13th century.The carvings are huge,exquisitely carved and well preserved.They are one of the most magnificent representative works of the Chinese Grottoes art of that period.They made it to the World Heritage List in 1999.

Visitors at the exhibition hall of ‘The World of Dazu’(photo/Sichuan News Network)

The exhibition, sponsored by Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum and Chongqing Dazu Rock Carving Research Institute, is an outcome of the strategy of‘Construction of Double City Economic Circle in Chengdu-Chongqing Region’and the creation of Bashu cultural tourism corridor.

Incense burner,‘The World of Dazu’Exhibition (photo/Sichuan News Network)

‘This exhibition is the largest external exhibition in the history of Dazu Rock Carving Research Institute, which exhibits more than 60 pieces of fine rock carvings from Song Dynasty to Ming and Qing Dynasties, focusing on Dazu Rock Carving statues represented by Beishan, Baodingshan, Nanshan, Shizhuangshan and Shimenshan grottoes, and presents the artistic value of Dazu Rock Carvings from various angles.In addition to the centralized display of Dazu Rock Carvings, it also highlights its cultural protection.’said Dazu Rock Carving Research Institute Vice President Liu Xiangao.In the exhibition hall,visitors can see the Buddha statues of Sakyamuni,the statues of Avalokitesvara and incense burners.

Restoration of original scenery of Thousand Buddha Cliff at Xiaofo Bay in the exhibition hall (photo/Sichuan News Network)

The immersive Exhibition Hall aided by digital technology puts the audience amidst the vast array of Dazu Rock Carvings.‘The essence of Dazu Rock Carvings is in the slopes they are etched in. In order to bring this experience to the audience, we have adopted a lot of digital technology. Through 3D printing technology, the original size of Qianshou Guanyin and Bianyin Bodhisattva works was presented so that the audience could have zero distance contact with the cultural relics. There are videos and documentaries so the audience can watch the rock carving of Baoding mountain and the restoration process of Qianshou Guanyin,’ said Wang Fang, deputy curator of Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum.

The exhibition will end on January 3, 2021.(By Edina Liang)