DAZU (Day 9 - part 3)

Paradise & The Netherworld

Sutra of Amitabha and His Pure Land:

There are 169 statues in this section. Carved into the upper section is the happy world of Buddhist paradise. In the middle are statues of the Three Saints of the West Pure Land, and in the lower part are nine sorts of heavenly beings.

Amitabha is another one of the Five Wisdom (or Dhyani) Buddhas. He is often known as The Buddha of Infinite Light. He created the Pure Land (or Sukhavati) which is situated in the far west, beyond the bounds of our own world. All those who call upon him can be reborn into this land where they undergo instruction in the dharma and ultimately become bodhisattvas and buddhas.


The floating temples indicate paradise.

Niche of the Netherworld:

This niche houses 133 statues. Sitting in the middle of the upper part is Ksitigarbha, with 10 Buddhas seated above his head, and flanked by 10 bodhisattvas and two gods. The lower two tiers are 18 stories of hells including the Knife-mountain and the Knee-chopping hells. This niche is the largest of its size and richest in content on similar subject matters of Buddhist art. Ksitigarbh is a bodhisattva known for his vow not to achieve Buddhahood until all hells are emptied.


Ouch!

Ritual site of Liu Benzun:

Liu Benzun was a lay Buddhist (someone who is not a monk but is attempting to lead a generous, moral and mindful life according to the Buddha’s teachings) in Leshan during the late Tang Dynasty (late 9th - early 10th centuries). He was the founder of a religious movement which stressed the use of mantras (incantations) and self-mutilations for the welfare of his followers. Liu successively amputated and burned ten parts of his body.

The 67 statues show his attendants and depict Liu's 10 practices of asceticism (severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence).


These statues help us learn how prominent people dressed during the Tang Dynasty.


Liu Benzun


These statues were never finished due to a Mongolian raid that interupted the work.


Returning to the bus

It was a 4 hour drive to Chengdu. Much of the trip was through charming countryside and rice fields.


An old gate


A typical duck farm


Some different stages of rice fields


Working in the fields


Work in the city seems equally as difficult.


In an interesting choice of advertising, these cars are made up to look like insects.


Enormous billboards plaster the countryside outside of Chengdu.