 #66 Teaching at Taizhou Teachers College, China (Dafo, the Great Buddha): Photos 21 to 33 |
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Located on a sprawling UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sichuan Province of China, this impressive 230 foot high Dafo, or Great Buddha, has been carved into the red sandstone hill called Lingyun Hill, where 3 treacherous rivers confluence, the Min, the Dadu, and the Qingyi Rivers in the city of Le Shan, some 3 hrs from Chengdu's Panda Bears.
To safeguard the passing boats, the monk Haitong in 713 AD, (at a time before Charlemagne the Great created the Holy Roman Empire), decided to carve a protective icon into the sandstone cliffs as a public works project. No doubt, he wisely understood, that the resulting rubble would fill in the river-shoals, to calm the often raging waters, taking the lifes of many, and usually threatening the profitable, surrounding agricultural areas of the citizens.
Its construction took almost 100 years and beyond its value as a safeguard for ships, it has become a place of interest, which no visitor to Chengdu, Sichuan, China should miss.
During my visit, I climbed down and up both sides of this masterpiece, and it was as if walking back into history. Handcarved, narrow steps, called the Nine Turns Staircase, wind their way from
Full Text Entry: #66 Teaching at Taizhou Teachers College, China (Dafo, the Great Buddha)
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January 11th 2007 - Jorge Padrón: Hello!
I know it's been a long while since I commented, it's been so crazy for me with solos to prepare and stuff to do for a certain english class of mine!
The pics look amazing as does the country. You seem to always have an adventure to go on. How I envy you!
Just stopping by to say hi!
September 21st 2007 - hot babe: xx
thats place look really gd i wanna go there if i did it will be intesting xx
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What a job, casting and transporting this bell to the mountain-top.
The great size of the bell, with its unique details, can be greatly appreciated when compared to the young Chinese visitor.
Smaller stone-carvings grace the surroundings of the Great Buddha.
This ancient Buddha is carved directly into the sandstone mountain side, along the paths leading to and from Dafo.
Survivor
Thankfully, this carved sand stone shrine has survived the turmoil of the Cultural Revolution.
happy
This beautiful "Happy Buddha" has been carved in ancient times from one single block of marble.
The "Happy Buddha"
It is impossible for a visitor not to smile, when confronted with such a happy face, supported by this athletic and "fit" body. It gave me pause to think about mine!
Why here?
The monk Haitong created this 230 ft. high Great Buddha. Impressive, and its the remaining rubble also helped control the torrents of the three converging rivers.
2 Comments - Add Public Comment or Send Private Message
January 11th 2007 - Jorge Padrón: Hello!
I know it's been a long while since I commented, it's been so crazy for me with solos to prepare and stuff to do for a certain english class of mine!
The pics look amazing as does the country. You seem to always have an adventure to go on. How I envy you!
Just stopping by to say hi!
September 21st 2007 - hot babe: xx
thats place look really gd i wanna go there if i did it will be intesting xx
All Comments
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