Buddhism
樂山大佛
Leshan Giant Buddha
“A Buddha of seventy-one meters, carved into the cliff where three rivers meet”
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Photo: xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0
Scenes
Meaning
As the boat draws near across the river, the giant Buddha carved in the red cliff slowly reveals itself, from its feet to the edge of the sky.
Said to have been carved in the Tang dynasty from the cliff where three rivers meet, the colossal Buddha is understood to have been made to bless those traveling the waters. Together with Mount Emei it is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Field notes
- Location
- Leshan · China · N29.5° · E103.8°
- Best time
- A clear morning, facing the Buddha from a river cruise
- Getting there
- A short drive from Leshan; viewed from the cliffside path or by boat.
- Etiquette
- Follow the cliffside pilgrim path and viewing guidelines, keeping to the marked route.
Sources
- · UNESCO World Heritage
- · Encyclopaedia Britannica
Photographs are freely licensed works from Wikimedia Commons and similar sources; the author and license appear beneath each image.