The Leshan Giant Buddha

The Leshan Giant Buddha

Culture,Immovable Culture Heritage,Tourism

Standing on the cliffs of Lingyun Mountain in Sichuan Province, China, the Leshan Giant Buddha is a monumental statue of Maitreya Buddha. At 71 meters tall, it is the largest stone Buddha in the world and a masterpiece of Buddhist art dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). However, this awe-inspiring cultural icon is facing the adverse effects of climate change. Rising temperatures and erratic weather patterns have accelerated erosion of the statue's sandstone structure, while increased rainfall has heightened the risk of water damage. In addition, fluctuations in the water levels of nearby rivers have been exacerbated by climate change, threatening the stability of the cliffs on which the statues were carved. The challenges of preserving this ancient monument in the face of climate change underscore the vulnerability of even the most massive monuments to our changing environment. Conservation is now more important than ever to preserve this valuable cultural heritage for future generations.

is51102024

Yuwei Ai

Site

969

22/04/2024

cm x cm x cm

current,29.553613,103.767838;

The Leshan Giant Buddha

TEXT

Archaeological

public

1

ya27@st-andrews.ac.uk