Maiji

Maiji is a toponym used for several places in Gansu Province, China. It is most commonly associated with Maiji Mountain (Maijishan) and with Maiji District, an administrative division of the city of Tianshui.

Maijishan Mountain lies near Tianshui in southeastern Gansu. The mountain is famous for the Maijishan Grottoes, a major Buddhist cave complex carved into the rock over many centuries. Begun in the 4th century CE and developed in subsequent dynasties, the grottoes comprise hundreds of caves and thousands of statues and reliefs. The carvings reflect a long continuum of Chinese Buddhist art, sculpture, and religious architecture, ranging from large seated Buddhas to smaller figures. The site is a key source for the study of early Buddhist iconography in China and has long attracted scholars and visitors.

Maiji District is a district of Tianshui City, named after the nearby Maiji Mountain. It includes urban neighborhoods and rural townships and functions as an administrative and economic area within the prefecture. The district encompasses parts of the landscape surrounding the Maijishan grottoes and plays a role in the preservation and promotion of local cultural heritage, including the site’s ongoing tourism and research activities.