Editor's Note: A collection of 82 rock carvings from Dazu are on display at the National Museum of China. Originally discovered on the steep hillsides of the Dazu area near Chongqing, the oldest rock carvings date back to the early Tang dynasty (618-907).

The rock carvings are known for their grand scale, aesthetic quality and fine preservation. The rich diversity of subject matters depicted in the carvings are evidence of the harmonious coexistence of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism in ancient China. The carvings also depict ordinary people's daily lives and attempt to convey sophisticated traditional merits in a worldly manner.

Since the 1950s, local museums and institutes have sought to protect the carvings against weathering and damage. In 1999, the Dazu Rock Carvings were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

A rock carving statue of Buddha Sakyamuni made during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). [Photo by Zhu Bochen/China.org.cn]

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