The Chinese city of Leshan in Sichuan Province became famous all over the world thanks to the giant statue of Buddha. To date, this sculpture is included in the Guinness Book of Records as the most large-scale sculptural image of this deity. What is the size of the statue of the Buddha in Leshan and what is its history?
Legends about the creation of a giant statue
The largest surviving sculpture of the Buddha has been created for 90 years. The date of the beginning of works on its erection is 713 years. The giant statue of Buddha in Leshan is carved from the Lingyunshan cliff. Originally the sculpture was located inside the thirteen-storeyed temple of "Dasyanga", or Pavilion of the Great Image. In the seventeenth century, the wooden structure burned down. But the giant statue did not suffer at all because of the fire. Now the majestic huge Buddha is seen from a considerable distance. Many legends have been created about the creation of this sculpture. According to the most common version, the monk Hai Tong proposed a giant statue. He hoped that the statue of the Buddha could pacify the stormy rivers of Mingyang, Dadu and Qin, crossing in this area. Curiously, water flows have really become calmer. The whole point is that during the construction of the river, stone blocks fell. Another legend says that the statue of Buddha in Leshan was created to protect the area from heavy rains.
The largest Buddha in exact dimensions
Created during the reign of the Tang dynasty, the large sculpture of the Buddha amazes with its size even modern sculptors and engineers. The deity is depicted in a "sitting" position, his hands relaxed on his knees. The statue has been worked out in detail and has been preserved to the present day in excellent condition. The statue is made of stone, and only some of its individual elements are carved from wood. The total height of the sculpture is 71 meters. The height of the head is 15 meters. The width of the shoulders of the stone Buddha is almost 30 meters. The length of the fingers is 8 meters. The nose of the giant statue is also striking in its dimensions - as much as 5.5 meters. The length of the toe is 1.6 meters. Despite its scale, the statue of the Buddha in Leshan does not look formidable or frightening. On the contrary, from the statue so it bears calmness and pacification.
Description and photo attractions
The largest Buddha sculpture in the world is located in the park-temple complex. The majestic statue looks at the holy mountain Emeishan. On the walls around the giant figure you can see the relief images of Bodhisattvas. There are more than 90 of them. There are many images of the Buddha himself. The feet of the deity rest against the river, and his head ends at the level of the mountain. Along with the ears of the Buddha is an observation deck, on which tourists can climb the long stone stairs. From here you have a breathtaking view of the city. At the head of the sculpture is the Pagoda Souls - the current Buddhist temple. It is worth noting that the statue of the Buddha in Leshan is not the only attraction in the area. A large statue is located on the territory of a large complex. It is a magnificent natural park, on the territory of which you can see a lot of shrines, historical architectural structures, sculptures.
The amazing facts and myths about the giant statue
Today, the Buddha statue in Leshan (China) is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Despite its considerable age, the statue is perfectly preserved. Many local residents for centuries explained this fact by the mystical properties of the image of the deity. But in fact, the secret of the longevity of the sculpture lies in the hidden from the prying eyes drainage system. The creators of the statue hid a whole network of grooves and grottos in the folds of clothing, on the head, arms and chest of the Buddha. Thanks to this decision, the sculpture is reliably protected from weathering and is practically not afraid of the impact of meteorological precipitation, temperature changes. Some statues of standard size, located in the same temple complex as the giant Buddha, have serious damage. According to experts, sculptures suffered from the hands of vandals, and not from natural phenomena.
Useful information for tourists
Where is the statue of the Buddha in Leshan, how to get to this tourist attraction? From Chengdu to a giant statue, you can drive 2.5 hours by bus or taxi. Airplanes fly to Chengdu from Beijing. The entrance to the temple complex is paid for, the cost of the visit is 90 yuan. Also, you can admire the large-scale sculpture during a walk on the river tram. Every day Leshan is visited by many tourists who want to explore local attractions, in particular, the most famous among them a giant statue. In the culture of Buddhists, local sculptures and structures are also of religious significance and are revered as sacred objects.
Reviews of tourists about visiting the Buddha statue in Leshan
The temple complex in Leshan leaves few people indifferent. This place fascinates and amazes imagination. Many tourists here not only admire the sculptural and architectural masterpieces of antiquity, but also make their secret desires, which invariably come true. The statue of Buddha in Leshan looks very majestic and solemn. Photos from this landmark are especially colorful and interesting from any angle. And this is not surprising, because even the feet of a giant stone statue are several times larger than the average person.