peak years of the Tang Dynasty,
it is speculated that Lushena’s
facial appearance was based on
that of Empress Wu Zetian, and
the cave also presented a scene
of grand royal rituals from one of
the most prosperous periods in
ancient China.
As UNESCO highlighted, “the
high cultural level and sophisti-
cated society of Tang Dynasty
China are encapsulated in the
exceptional stone carvings”.
The devastating fl ood in
Henan province last summer did
not damage this marvelous cave.
However, the invisible but haunt-
ing damage of seeping water is
a more dangerous enemy to the
rocks, according to Ma Chao-
long, director of the conservation
center with the Longmen Grot-
toes Research Academy.
Ground penetrating radar,
3D scanning, infrared-thermal
imaging, and other modern de-
tecting methods, unimaginable
in the 1971 project, are adopted
this time to draft a restoration
plan. This will focus on tackling
water-related problems and thus
strengthen rock solidarity. “It’s
also like having a comprehensive
physical checkup of Lushena,”
Ma says.
Shi Jiazhen, a veteran archae-
ologist and director of the Long-
men academy, says: “Today, the
restoration of grottoes is not
merely an engineering project as
in the old days. It provides a pre-cious platform for various aca-
demic programs involving many
other institutes and universities
and it will be lastingly benefi cial
after the renovation ends.”
Shi also considers that the
case of Fengxian Temple gives
new concepts on how archaeol-
ogy is viewed. “People used to
think archaeology is to excavate
the ground,” he explains. “But
during restoration of the statues,
we also have to research diff er-
ent dimensions of space.”
For example, vestiges of gold
foil that once covered the Bud-
dha’s face were detected, thanks
to hi-tech equipment, but no
historical document that survives
ever mentioned this key feature.The renovation is scheduled
to last until the end of June.
Despite the conservators’ en-
deavors, Shi knows a bitter but
irreversible fact. “Through our
work, we can only slow down the
aging process of the grottoes,
but the rocks will continuously
be eroded, and, one day, they
will eventually disappear.”
Digitization is probably a solu-
tion to help people in the future
remember their fading glamour.
In the 1920s and ’30s, Longmen
was looted by foreign antique
dealers and bandits, which saw its
numerous statues being carved
up and traffi cked overseas.
Some foreign explorers and
Sinologists took pictures of theLongmen Grottoes, providing an
important reference for today’s
restoration work in the digital age.
“Through analysis of the old
photos and fi eld research, we
can use virtual rehabilitation and
3D printing to bring damaged
relics back to life,” says Gao
Junping, who is in charge of the
information center of the Long-
men academy.
Digitization also makes it pos-
sible for the separated treasures
to be reunited. With the help
of overseas institutions, the
high-defi nition digital scanning
of separated parts of Buddhist
niches are virtually rejoined.
Currently, the largest-ever
project of this type is ongoing.
Dihou Lifo Tu (Emperor and
Empress Worship the Buddha),
a pair of highlighted stone relief
paintings from the Northern
Wei Dynasty, are now separately
housed in the Metropolitan
Museum of Art in New York and
the Nelson-Atkins Museum of
Art in Kansas City. Some of their
scattered fragments were left in
the Longmen academy.
“Thanks to cooperation
among three institutions,
the splendor of this national
treasure will be shown again in
life-size replicas,” Gao says.Top: Nine giant statues of Buddhist deities were vividly carved at the site of
Fengxian Temple. ZENG XIANPING / FOR CHINA DAILY Above: Replica of the stone
relief painting Huanghou Lifo Tu (Empress Worships the Buddha) from the
Northern Wei Dynasty. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILYAdditional information is on file with the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.
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