--FILE--sculture di Bodhisattvas scolpite nelle rocce di centinaia di anni fa sono visti presso la scenografica regione di Dazu incisioni rupestri in Dazu County, Chongqi
--FILE--Sculptures of Bodhisattvas carved into rocks hundreds of years ago are seen at the scenic region of Dazu Rock Carvings in Dazu County, Chongqing, China, 21 April 2011. The steep hillsides of the Dazu world heritage site near Chongqing contain an exceptional series of rock carvings dating from the 9th to the 13th century. The carvings comprise some 50, 000 figures in total. Tantric Buddhism from India and the Chinese Taoist and Confucian beliefs came together at Dazu to create a highly original and influential manifestation of spiritual harmony. They are remarkable for their aesthetic quality, their rich diversity of subject matter, both secular and religious, and the light that they shed on everyday life in China during this period. The earliest rock carvings in Dazu County date back to AD 650, in the early years of the Tang dynasty, but the main period began in the late 9th century. In 892 Wei Junjing, Prefect of Changzhou, pioneered the carvings at Beishan (north hill), and his example was followed after the collapse of the Tang dynasty. The Nanshan (south hill) carvings, the best preserved of the five major Taoist groups in China, extend over 86 m. For the most part they depict Taoist subjects. By the 12th century, when these carvings were executed, Taoism had evolved from worship of the Supreme Master and the Three Officials into belief in the Pure Trinity and the Four Emperors.
