lunes, 7 de julio de 2014

ON THE WAY TO THE GIANT BUDDAH

The Leshan Giant Buddha (simplified Chinese乐山大佛traditional Chinese樂山大佛pinyinLèshān Dàfó is located to the east of Leshan City, Sichuan Province, . this stone Buddah is 71-metres (233 ft) tall and it portrays Maitreya (a Bodhisattva usually represented as a  monk with a smile on his face and with his naked breast and paunch exposed to view) in sitting posture. It was carved  during the Tang Dynasty, in 713 construction was  led by a Chinese monk named Haitong. He hoped that the Buddha would calm the turbulent waters that plagued the shipping vessels traveling down the river. When funding for the project was threatened, he is said to have gouged out his own eyes to show his piety and sincerity. After his death, however, the construction was stuck due to insufficient funding. About 70 years later, a jiedushi decided to sponsor the project and the construction was completed by Haitong's disciples in 803.
Apparently the massive construction resulted in so much stone being removed from the cliff face and deposited into the river below that the currents were indeed altered by the statue, making the water safe for passing ships...
On the way to this buddah, we found a cave, a beautiful temple, a pagoda, a tower, and many beautiful carvings in the surrounding area. 


















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