Yulin Cave 4

Yulin Cave 4 was constructed in Yuan Dynasty (1271--1368 AD). This cave has a truncated pyramidal ceiling and a square hall. On the altar in the middle of the hall are sculptures of Vairocana, four Buddhas and four vidya-rajas. In the center of the sidewalls walls are respectively a mandala flanked by a preaching scene to the left and mandalas of Green Tara and White Tara to the right. The image of Green Tara sits half cross-legged on a throne with an anadem and is green all over the body. Such Tara images belong to Tibetan Buddhism, in which green, black, red and white were mainly used as the main tone. The composition of the mountains and trees have been comppletely fixed in formula and mainly used as decorative motifs. The Tathagatas in the preaching scenes have exhibited typical features of Tibetan Buddhism such as the triangular usnisa, the head with broad top and round bottom, and sloping shoulders. A comparison with the Mogao caves of Yuan dynasty shows that Tibetan Buddhism was more popular at the Yulin Grottoes.