The Buddha statue, located in the small Chinese province of Sichuan, near the city of Leshan, is considered the largest Buddha statue on Earth. Moreover, this is the highest sculptural creation in the world for the past millennium. The statue is carved in the thickness of the rock in the place where three rivers flow: Daduhe, Minjiang and Qinijiang. Previously, these three rivers were stormy streams that brought many troubles and misfortunes to everyone.
The history of the construction of the statue
In 713, the monk Haitun decided to save people from the disasters that brought them three treacherous rivers. He gathered craftsmen and decided to carve a Big Buddha on the rock. The largest Buddha statue was erected for ninety years, it was a complex and lengthy work. To protect the sculpture from snow and rain, a wooden tower Dasyange was built over it with a height of thirteen tiers. But later, during the riots and wars, this building was destroyed by a fire. Bodhisattvas are carved from the north and south sides of the Big Buddha. For many years, the statue of the Big Buddha was in the open. During this period, the image has changed a lot. Only in 1962, the Chinese government decided to start restoration work. At the moment, the Buddha statue in China is an important cultural property of the state.
Ancient World Heritage Site
This world's largest stone Buddha sits on a cliff and watches the three rivers at his feet. The height of the statue is 71 meters, for more than a thousand years this creation takes first place in the ranking of the highest monuments in the world. Ancient architects assured that everything great should be embodied in gigantic proportions, and the great monk Maitreya was revered by all Buddhist schools as the future teacher of all mankind.
Legend of the great statue
According to an ancient legend, the monk Haitun 1200 years ago decided to carve out the image of the supreme deity in the rock in order to appease the elements of the three rivers. For many years, the monk raised funds for the construction of the statue in cities and villages, and only in 713 the colossal construction began. The monk did not live to see the completion of the Buddha statue, when he died, it was carved only to the knees. But his great goal was achieved - the stone fragments that the workers threw into the river, partially pacified the water flows. After the death of Haitun, the construction was continued by the rulers of Sichuan, and in 803, 90 years after the start of construction, the image of the Enlightened Buddha was completed.
Tourist attraction
The face of the Enlightened Buddha is visible from the top of the rock, but his body and legs are hidden by a ledge. No matter how hard the tourists try to find the most convenient place for a full view, the Buddha statue is visible only from a side angle. If you look at the sculpture from below, then the whole panorama is occupied by the knees of the Buddha, and somewhere far above he can see his gigantic face. But in Buddhism, the sculptures are not created for contemplation; the universe cannot be comprehended with the help of the mind or feelings. The whole universe is the body of Truth, or the body of Buddha. But it is dharma that allows a person to achieve enlightened being in earthly life.
You can go to the park adjacent to the statue for 80 yuan. To get closer to the statue, tourists must climb the stairs, on one side of which there is a cliff, and on the other a rock.