The relation between Danxia landforms and Buddhism grottoes along the Silk Road

Abstract

Danxia landform is defined as a kind of landform made up of non-marine red clastic rock and characterized by red walls and red cliffs.Flat top,steep face and gentle piedmont are the most typical geometrical features of it.Northwest is one of the regions in China where Danxia landforms concentrate.The Danxia landforms are mostly distributed in the narrow strip area;around Longshan Mountains,the valleys of the Yellow River and the Huangshui River,Hexi Corridor and the south of the Tianshan Mountains.The main line of the Silk Road is just along these areas.Because of this,the Buddhism was introduced to China and spread along the Silk Road,so there are numerous Buddhism grottoes.In the west of China,almost all of the Buddhism grottoes are located on the Danxia landforms,so it is certain that there exists a relation between the Buddhism was grotto and Danxia landform along the Silk Road.This paper firstly describes the routes,along which Buddhism was introduced into China.According to the difference of the landscape and lithology in northwest,the paper divides the study area into six sub-areas.They are the areas along the north route of the Silk Rout,Hexi Corridor,the valleys of Yellow River and Huangshui River,the areas to the east of Longshan Mountain,Binxian of Shaanxi Province,and Dunhuang area.They are all the areas where Danxia landforms concentrate,excluding Dunhuang area.The paper discusses the Buddhism grottoes located in these areas respectively,comparing the difference of the grottoes' distribution,structure and style.In addition,it discusses the environment of each area.Based on the discussion it analyses the relation between the grottoes and Danxia landforms.It is held that the characteristic of the Danxia landforms is the basis for the grotto excavating.The red color is in favor of the Buddhism grottoes and the lithology make people cave easily.Therefore,the Danxia landforms are the best choice to cave grottoes and almost all the grottoes along the Silk Rout are located in these areas.If there is no Danxia landform there would be no grotto or no stone statue,for example the southern part of the Silk Road and Dunhuang area.Because of difference of rock character and the environment,each grotto has its own structure and style.Of course,the style of the grottoes and the statues on Danxia landforms differ from those on non-Danxia landforms,even they are all on the Danxia landforms they are different,for some kinds of rock are fit to cave subtly,some are fit to shape statues and others only fit to paint fresco.Therefore,the paper thinks the difference of the rock character is the most important factor controlling the grottoes' structure and style.Finally the paper compares the Buddhism grottoes of the Danxia landforms and of other landforms,such as karst landforms.Although the karst landforms are widely used for cutting grottoes and carving status,comparing to Danxia landform it has disadvantage.Based on the above,the paper concludes that the Danxia landforms are the best choice for Buddhism grottoes and the most important natural conditions that control the grottoes distributing structure and style.The grottoes in the Danxia landforms along the Silk Road integrate with nature,history and art perfectly.