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West of Cave 20 there are many later smaller caves and niches dated after 494 A.D including Caves
4,14,15, which comprise the phase III project. The reduced scale of these caves and niches reflects the
loss of imperial patronage and the diffusion of Buddhism from the ruling class into the lower classes of
society. Local generals, governors and devotees without official titles constructed niches for spiritural
merit, in honor of deceased family members or for a living person's future good fortune. With the spread
of the 'Jingtu sect' from the South of China to the North, Buddhism became popular among the lower
classes. The caves executed in this phase generally have pagodas or thousand-Buddha images. The face
of Buddha is long, the neck slender and the shoulders sloping. Sculptural reliefs covering the walls
of Cave 15 show scenes of fish, birds and gulls dancing and frolicking amidst seaweed. The sculptural
relief showing an inverted acrobat sheds much light on ancient Chinese acrobatics. The flying beings
embellishing the ceilings of many caves are exquisite to behold.
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