After the construction of the five early caves, numbered 16-20, during the Northern Wei dynasty, there was something of a power struggle in the palace, and this was also reflected in the caves. Cave 11 which was built next was a project of Emperor Xianwen, but was interrupted when he resigned from his office, and the cave was completed, in a slightly different style later.
Similarly, the so-called twin caves, those numbered 7 & 8; 9 & 10 and 11 & 12, built during the Liao period, during the second phase of construction, appear to reflect events at court, where there were two rulers, the Emperess Dowager Feng, and the underage Emperor Xiaowen. In all these caves a prominent feature are the twin Buddha statues.
There are other stylistic changes also with these caves which indicate their later construction. The highly intricate carving and colouring of the surrounding statues, the influence of Indian god-type statues, and more. The commentary seems to rely on the work of the great Chinese scholar Su Bai, which is not undisputed.
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