According to the Indian Buddhism, there is only one Yamaraja to lead the deities of hell, judge dead people on their deeds while alive and hand out proper punishment. As Buddhism spread in China, some Buddhist deities were improved or adopted by the Chinese while images of Yamarajas with distinctive Chinese features emerged as Buddhism met the needs of the Chinese people. The Yamarajas have a Chinese family name and the definite records of their horoscopes. They are the continuous images of the human rulers and the ruling class in hell. In the Indian Buddhism, the Yamaraja is the fifth one and is played by Bao Zheng, an official from the Song Dynasty. The sculptures of the Yamarajas in the new temple wear crowns and long beards. Some scowl at people, some are in the image of gentle officials, some are like wise old men. The images are similar to the images of deities from Taoism and far from their origin as images of Indian Buddhism.
Dazu rock carvings
Dazu rock carvings are an exceptional series of rock carvings in the Moya Grottoes, Dazu County, Sichuan Province. The carvings date back to the Tang Dynasty (650) and were built over 1,200 years. The period from the Year of Yuanfeng in the Northern Song Dynasty to the Year of Chunyou in the Southern Song Dynasty (1078–1252). was the golden age of the Dazu rock carvings. The carvings made during the Song Dynasty are the essence of the carvings.
The carvings are mostly on the North Mountain, Baoding Mountain, South Mountain, Shizhuan Mountain and Shimen Mountain. The carvings of Esoteric Buddhism are gathered on South Mountain and Baoding Mountain, carvings of Taoism on South Mountain, carvings of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism on Shizhuan Mountain, and carvings of Taoism and Buddhism on Shimen Mountain. The Buddhist doctrines are popularly demonstrated by means of serial pictures there, combing the Buddha dharma, filial duty and filial rule from Confucian thought and the pastoral feeling from Taoism. Therefore, the Buddhist doctrines further integrate with the Chinese features. The popular thoughts and folk expressions are a major characteristic of Dazu rock carvings.
Shizhuan Mountain
The Moya Carving on Shizhuan Mountain began during the first century AD. It harmoniously combines Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, a rare combinationamong Chinese grottoes. The No.6 grotto is a shrine built for Confucius and his ten disciples. Confucius sits properly with a serious mien in the middle of the shrine with his feet on a square table. He wears a headband and hanfu (the national costume of Han people) with a jade belt at the waist and a precious fan in his right hand. His ten disciples are in orderly rows on both sides of the Master, five on each side. They are vivid in appearance. Some face the Master, some stand with eyes to the front, while some are discussing with nearby disciples. They wear crowns and hanfu with jade belts and jade tablets in their hands. Obviously, the carvings of Confucius and his ten disciples are in imitation of the emperor and his officials.
The No.7 grotto contains various carvings in the image of Buddha, Buddhists and Bodhisattva.
The No.8 grotto is a shrine to Laozi. In the center of the shrine sits a statue of Laozi with seven statues of Taoist holy men standing on each sides. Laozi sits with his legs tucked up on a high table. The statue of Laozi is higher than the others. He is wearing a hanfu and has a fan in one hand. Other statues hold jade tablets. No.8 grotto is similar to No.6.
Shimen Mountain