Giant Buddha, Leshan, China
The Leshan Giant Buddha is a sitting statue of Maitreya (a Bodhisattva who is frequently shown as a very obese monk with a large smile on his face and his naked breast and paunch exposed to view). The Buddha is located in Sichuan Province, east of Leshan City, at the confluence of three rivers: the Min River, the Qingyi River, and the Dadu River. The monument became the most well-known scenic location in the city. UNESCO added the Buddha's location to the list of World Heritage sites in December 1996. Begun in 713 during the Tang Dynasty and completed in 803, the statue took more than 90 years to carve. Thousands of workers had contributed their time and expertise to the project throughout the years. The Giant Buddha, the world's largest carved stone Buddha, appears in poetry, song, and narrative.
The Buddha faces the river and has a symmetrical posture and expression that has been masterfully caught in its sad quiet. It is 71 meters (about 233 feet) tall and has 8.3 meters (about 27 feet) long fingers. The 9-meter-wide (about 30-foot) instep can accommodate 100 people, while the 24-meter-wide (about 79-foot) shoulder can accommodate a basketball court.
The Buddha's allure stems not just from its grandeur but also from its architectural brilliance. The Buddha's coiled hair has 1,021 buns. These have been expertly implanted in the brain. The workmanship is so impressive that the 1,021 buns appear to be a part of the entire. The drainage system is another architectural marvel. This system is comprised of a number of hidden gutters and channels located on the head and arms, behind the ears, and within the clothing. This arrangement, which serves to shift precipitation and keep the interior area dry, is critical to the Buddha's safety. The big set of ears is seven meters (approximately 23 feet) long and painted with mud on the surface. It was difficult for craftsmen thousands of years ago to attach these to the stone head.
Location: No. 2435, Mid Section of Lingyun Rd., Leshan City, Sichuan Province
