The Leshan Giant Buddha is 31 kilometers east of Mount Emei in Leshan City, on the eastern bank of the Min River near Lingyun Temple. It was carved during the first year of the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty and took 90 years to complete. The statue, also known as the Lingyun Giant Buddha, is the largest stone-carved statue in the world, carved into the cliff face of Qixia Peak on Lingyun Mountain.
According to folklore, the initial purpose of constructing the Leshan Giant Buddha was to calm the turbulent river waters, ensuring the safe passage of boats. Master Haitong of the Tang Dynasty initiated the project to reduce the water’s ferocity and save lives. The entire project spanned three generations of craftsmen’s hard work. The Leshan Giant Buddha is a seated statue of Maitreya Buddha, with its head level on the mountain. The head is 14.7 meters high and 10 meters wide, with 1,051 hair buns and ears that are 7 meters long. The statue sits solemnly and majestically by the river.
Upon closer inspection, the Buddha’s face appears full, with crescent-shaped eyebrows, compassionate eyes, and a slight smile exuding both authority and kindness. The right hand naturally hangs down, while the left hand rests on the knee, embodying the deity’s solemnity and compassion. The Buddha’s robe, with its hanging sleeves and the lotus and square patterns painted with gold foil and red lacquer on the chest, showcases the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty.
However, this statue of Maitreya Buddha has exhibited several strange phenomena over the years, such as closing its eyes and shedding tears, the appearance of a halo behind it, and the river swelling at its feet. Each time the Buddha closed its eyes and shed tears, it was followed by significant natural or manmade disasters. Ancient people believed that “heavenly anomalies herald disasters.”
4 instances of the Leshan Giant Buddha closing its eyes and shedding tears
According to Wikipedia, since the Communist Party took power, the Leshan Giant Buddha has closed its eyes and shed tears on four occasions: in 1962, 1963, 1976, and 2000. Many people witnessed and photographed these events.
1. 1962: Mass starvation
During the so-called “three years of natural disasters” from 1959 to 1962 under Communist rule, around 40 million Chinese people starved to death. The souls of these unfortunate victims seemed to linger in the sky.
The first instance of the Leshan Giant Buddha closing its eyes and shedding tears occurred in 1962. Severe malnutrition led to widespread illness and death, with corpses scattered everywhere. The impoverished locals in Leshan would wrap the dead in straw mats and throw them into the river. The Buddha, located downstream, saw countless corpses floating past daily. The sight of thousands of starving bodies was unbearable, and the Buddha closed its eyes overnight, seemingly unable to witness the human suffering any longer.
Visitors who witnessed the Buddha closing his eyes claimed to have seen tears streaming down his face, a scene that left many heartbroken. The Communist authorities later repaired the Buddha’s eyes, but photos of the closed eyes from that year are still preserved in the Leshan Exhibition Hall.
2. 1963: Widespread famine
In 1963, witnessing the continued suffering of countless people during the famine, the Buddha statue closed its eyes again, this time with an even more sorrowful and helpless expression. This event further fueled the belief that the Buddha’s tears were an omen of disaster, causing panic among the Communist authorities. The government spent 40 million yuan to clean the Buddha, but the tear stains at the corners of its eyes remained.
3. 1976: Massive earthquake
On July 28, 1976, the Tangshan earthquake struck, killing countless people. This tragedy caused the Buddha to close its eyes once more. According to local elders, this time, the Buddha’s eyes remained closed longer than ever before. Many tourists and residents witnessed this “miracle”: The Buddha’s expression was solemn, its eyes tightly shut, and its brows seemed furrowed, as if deeply pained by human suffering. Some even claimed to see tears sliding down the Buddha’s face, lingering for a long time.
The Buddha’s tears caused widespread panic and unease across the country, with many believing it to be a bad omen, fearing a series of disasters. Although the Cultural Revolution ended in 1976, people looked back and saw that the Communist Party had destroyed traditional Chinese culture. As society became increasingly materialistic, moral values rapidly declined. Some wise individuals lamented that humanity was heading toward hell. The Buddha’s tears at this time might have reflected this.
4. 2000: Severe flooding
In 2000, the Leshan Giant Buddha again closed its eyes and shed tears. On July 13 that year, a massive rainstorm hit Shaanxi Province, causing widespread flooding and landslides, resulting in numerous casualties and property damage. The Communist government could not deny the existence of these strange phenomena.
There is a local saying in Leshan: “When the Buddha washes its feet, Leshan cannot sleep,” meaning that if the water reaches the Buddha’s feet, there will be a flood in Leshan. Another saying goes: “When the Buddha washes its feet, the world is in chaos,” implying the same. The Leshan Giant Buddha’s unique geographical location, facing Leshan City across the river, makes its feet a natural water level gauge. Leshan City will be flooded if the river water reaches the Buddha’s feet. For years, people have monitored the water level at the Buddha’s feet to anticipate and respond to potential floods.
On August 18, 2020, the “Leshan Giant Buddha washing its feet” phenomenon occurred for the first time. Due to the entire Qingyi River basin exceeding the guaranteed water level, Sichuan Province initiated its first-ever Level I flood control emergency response. The water levels of the Min River, Dadu River, and Qingyi River surged, submerging the Buddha’s toes. Officials stated that the Three Gorges Dam was experiencing its largest flood peak since its construction, opening 11 floodgates for the first time. Chongqing, a municipality adjacent to Sichuan, also faced record-breaking floods, with water inundating the city center.
Today
Fast forward to 2024, and between July 21 and 26, multiple incidents of people swimming in the floodwaters at the feet of the Leshan Giant Buddha occurred. On July 21, the river at the Buddha’s feet surged due to continuous heavy rain, and several tourists and locals swam in the floodwaters, filming videos and uploading them online.
Despite the swimmers ignoring the dangers of the flood and even waving at the Buddha and playing in the water, some wise individuals have become alert. Could the phenomenon of “the Buddha washing its feet, the world in chaos” be happening again? The strange occurrences at the Leshan Giant Buddha have again sparked widespread attention and discussion.
Follow us on X, Facebook, or Pinterest
