Datong, known as Pingcheng in ancient times, was under the jurisdiction of Yanmen Prefecture. Until the capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty was moved to Luoyang, Pingcheng had been the political, economic and cultural centre of the Northern Wei Empire, which ruled northern China. After Emperor Wencheng ascended the throne, Buddhism was revived, giving rise to numerous temples and monks. In 460, the first year of the Heping reign, Tan Yao, the highest monk official of the Northern Wei Dynasty, dug out five grottoes at the Yungang Grottoes. In each of these five grottoes he carved a Buddhist statue. These five grottoes, being the earliest ones, are today’s “Five Caves Created by Tan Yao,” in which the statues are tall and majestically impressive, communicating the idea that Buddhism will be popular forever.