8.26The Leshan Buddha👨‍🦲

China is full of sacred spots. One of the most revered is here in the Southwest. This massive statue, called the Leshan Buddha, sits on Mount Emei, where Buddhism was first established in the first century. The giant Buddha statue is located where the three rivers merge. The current creates a big whirlpool. In the past, boats that passed through often sank, causing a lot of human deaths. So monk Hai Tong decides to build the giant statue there, opposite the Lingyun Temple. Every era carries their own depiction of the Buddha. During the Tang Dynasty, the society was well advanced. The economy was flourishing and life was prosperous. Often in Tang paintings, the subjects appear plump and dignified. This is the characteristic of Tang Dynasty. Naturally, the grand Buddha statue conveys these features. This grand Buddha remains an inspiration 1200 years later.