乐山大佛, 四川, 中国 Leshan Giant Buddha, Sichuan, China (© www.anotherdayattheoffice.org/Getty Images)

乐山大佛, 四川, 中国 Leshan Giant Buddha, Sichuan, China (© www.anotherdayattheoffice.org/Getty Images)

守护江河的佛像 The guardian of the waters

乐山大佛, 四川, 中国

世上有许多巨像，但没有一座能与乐山大佛相比。它坐落于中国四川省岷江、青衣江与大渡河三江汇流处的峭壁之上，是古代工程学的奇迹。建造始于公元713年，由一位名叫海通的僧人发起，他希望佛像的存在能平息险恶的水流，庇护来往的船只。据传，当工程因资金短缺而停滞时，海通为表诚心，甚至挖去了自己的双眼。整项工程历时约90年，直至他去世多年后才告完工。这尊佛像高达71米，是世界上最大的石刻佛像。其双肩宽约28米，耳长近7米，每只脚掌的长度超过8.5米。佛像内部设有隐蔽的排水系统，能有效防止雨水侵蚀，也因此得以在 1200多年的岁月里屹立不倒。

1996年，乐山大佛与峨眉山风景区一同被列入联合国教科文组织世界遗产名录。尽管岁月、风雨与污染在其身上留下了痕迹，但持续的修复与保护工作，使这尊巍然大佛依然庄严矗立，成为中国最珍贵的文化地标之一。静静守望着滔滔江水，见证信仰与时光的流转。

Leshan Giant Buddha, Sichuan, China

There are big statues—and then there's the Leshan Giant Buddha. Carved into a riverside cliff at the confluence of the Min, Qingyi, and Dadu Rivers in Sichuan, China, this statue is an ancient engineering marvel. Construction began in 713 CE under a monk named Hai Tong, who hoped that the Buddha's presence would calm dangerous river currents that threatened passing boats. He was so devoted that when funding ran out, he reportedly gouged out his own eyes to prove his sincerity. Construction took roughly 90 years and was completed long after Hai Tong's death. At 233 feet tall, it is the largest stone Buddha in the world. Its shoulders stretch about 92 feet wide, its ears measure nearly 23 feet long, and each foot extends over 28 feet. Drainage channels built inside the statue protect it from erosion, helping explain its remarkable preservation for more than 12 centuries.

Together with the Mount Emei Scenic Area, the Leshan Giant Buddha became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. Although time, weather, and pollution have taken their toll, continuous conservation work ensures it remains one of China's most treasured cultural landmarks.