Visit an exhibition now showing at the National Museum of Chinese
History in Beijing as China Daily reported. Then, if possible, make
a visit to Dazu County in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.

Entitled "A World Heritage£º Dazu Rock Carvings of China," the
exhibition gives a fascinating insight into 50,000 precious statues
carved mostly during the ninth-13th centuries.

Featuring more than 100 colour photographs, 14 original statues
and 10 replica pieces, the exhibition, which runs through July 25,
arouses visitors' interest in further exploring the precious area
of Dazu.

Sponsored by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and
the Chongqing municipal government, the show came to Beijing after
its Chongqing debut earlier and will travel to other Chinese cities
and abroad later.

Listed among items of major World Heritage importance by the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
in December 1999, Dazu rock carvings are in no way less important
than other big-name Chinese grottoes such as Dunhuang, Yungang and
Longmen in northern China.

The rock carvings here display the development of Chinese religious
beliefs and grotto art from the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) to the
Song Dynasty (960-1279), with a remarkably large number of the best
Buddhist statues made during the Song Dynasty.

But, for geographical and historical reasons, Dazu seems to
be less well-known compared with other grottoes, according to Tong
Dengjin, deputy director of the Dazu Museum of Rock Carving Art.

"This exhibition is designed to make the precious Dazu rock
carvings known to more people," said Tong, who noted that there
have been increasing numbers of interested visitors and researchers
from home and abroad in recent years.

"What makes Dazu rock carving unique is the large amount of
statues, the refined carving techniques, the diversified subjects,
the rich content and the excellent conservation," said Gu Sen, an
art historian from the China Art Academy in Beijing.

Today there are 75 major sites of rock carvings scattered across
the mountainous county of Dazu. The most important sites are grottoes
in Baodingshan, Beishan and Nanshan which are featured in three
different parts of the exhibition.

Built with the supervision of monk Zhao Zhifeng from 1174-1252,
the Baodingshan Grotto includes almost 10,000 statues that formed
a ritual site of Tantric Buddhism, a branch of Buddhism that disappeared
400 years ago in the north.

"Many of the statues bear inscriptions that ask people to follow
religious rules in their behaviours. Some statues are enlightening
portraits that teach people to be good and to avoid being bad,"
said Zhou Tao, a researcher from the Dazu Museum of Rock Carving
Art.

"Buddhist Wheel of Life," in the No 3 niche of Baodingshan,
is a striking example featuring the Anicca holding the "wheel of
life" in his long arms. All the living creatures are represented
in the samsara wheel of life that tells the cycle of life according
to Buddhist beliefs.

Another impressive statue is "Avalokitesvara with A Thousand
Arms" in the No 8 niche of Baodingshan. The niche, 770 centimetres
high and 1,250 centimetres wide, houses 72 statues and 126 implements
with the Avalokitesvara in the centre. The 1007 arms with an eye
in each palm stretch behind the Avalokitesvara to form a background
of 88 square metres, creating a beautiful yet holy effect.

"Niche of Sakyamuni Entering Nirvana," in the No 11 niche of
Baodingshan reminds visitors of Song Dynasty painters Ma Yuan and
Xia Gui who used highly simplistic approaches in their art by simply
painting a corner or a half of the picture, leaving the large empty
space to imagination.

In the niche, the huge reclining Buddha only has half of his
body exposed to viewers. And the statues surrounding him have only
the upper parts of their bodies.

"Ancient sculptors used the method to imply the boundless size
and power of Buddha, which is rarely seen in other grottoes in China,"
said Gu Sen.

Particularly, there are a large number of statues here that
depict daily life scenes such as a woman feeding chickens, drunkards
punished for their bad behaviour and herdsman with buffaloes.

Built during 892-1162, the Beishan Grotto includes 290 niches
carved in a 500-metre-long rock cliff. It is acclaimed as "a gallery
of Chinese Avalokitesvaras" because of the numerous, stylistic statues
of Avalokitesvara.

One of the most impressive statues is "Avalokistesvara with
Sun and Moon" in cave No 136 of Beishan Grotto. The statue portraits
the Avalokitesvara sitting cross-legged on a square diamond seat.
The plump face, smooth skin, calm gesture and the gentle waves of
clothes add to the image of a tender, loving mother of mankind in
her middle age.

In other sites such as Nanshan and Shizhuanshan of Dazu County,
there are statues that integrate Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism,
representing the interplay among different religions in China during
the Song period.

Previous grotto art in China seldom touched on Taoism and Confucianism,
according to Zhou. He said£º "Here, Confucius, Lao Zi and the Buddha
are even built together in the same niche, which is rare."

That indicates the inclusive nature and powerful vitality of
Chinese culture, experts say.

"This is a fantastic show. It stimulates respect for the past.
It's lucky that all these statues are well preserved," said Gazi
Yasargil, a visitor from the United States. "It tells us never to
forget our roots and always to keep our minds open," he said.

The majority of items on display are relatively small in size.
Most of the works showcased are less than a metre in height.

The best way to experience the grandeur and beauty of Dazu rock
carvings is to visit them on the spot.