Leshan Giant Buddha



The Leshan Giant Buddha was built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It is carved out of a cliff
face that lies at the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers in the southern part of
Sichuan province, near the city of Leshan. The stone sculpture faces Mount Emei, with the rivers
flowing below his feet.

The Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area has been listed as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.

The Leshan Giant Buddha is as famous as the standing Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afghanistan and
all of them are regarded as cultural heritages of mankind. With a sitting height of 71 meters, the
Leshan Giant Buddha is the world's largest statue of a Buddha carved in rock.

The statue depicts a seated Maitreya Buddha with his hands resting on his knees. Maitreya is the future Buddha, who will appear to preach the
dharma when the teachings of Gautama Buddha have faded away. He was especially popular during the 4th to 7th centuries, and his images are
found throughout the Buddhist world, conveying his characteristic air of expectancy and promise. The Giant Buddha of Leshan sits impassively
against the mountain, hands on his knees and looking across the river with heavy-lidded eyes.

His shoulders are 28 meters (92 feet) wide and his smallest toenail can accommodate a seated person. Each eyebrow is 18 feet long. According
to a local saying, "The mountain is a Buddha and the Buddha is a mountain."

Because of acid rain, the Buddha's nose has turned black and the face has become speckled. What looks like tear stains can be found at the
corner of the Buddha's eyes, and part of the body surface has begun to peel off.

This is the first maintenance project for the Buddha since the site was listed by UNESCO as a world cultural and
natural heritage. The local administration of cultural relics employs experts and technicians skilled in up-to-date
technology involving sound, light, and electronics to keep a constant check on the Buddha and treat all problems.