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Foshan Sacred Site (Open-Air Maitreya)

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Passing through the Huayan Nunnery, shaded by green bamboo and adorned with yellow walls and black tiles, you can see in the distance a small hill opposite Panhu Rock. The hill resembles a Buddha, and the Buddha resembles a hill. The mountain’s form looks just like the body of a giant Buddha—kneeling on both knees, chest and belly exposed, right hand resting on the knee, left hand on a bag. Its natural shape is strikingly lifelike. This is the Foshan Sacred Site of the scenic area. The designers skillfully added slight artificial touches, along with a 10-meter-tall head sculpture, resulting in an open-air Maitreya that stands a full 30 meters tall, facing the blue sky, with an ever-smiling, endearing expression. An inscribed stone tablet bears a couplet: “A big belly that embraces all the unbearable things under heaven; a smiling face that laughs at all the laughable people under heaven.”

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Passing through the Huayan Nunnery, shaded by green bamboo and adorned with yellow walls and black tiles, you can see in the distance a small hill opposite Panhu Rock. The hill resembles a Buddha, and the Buddha resembles a hill. The mountain’s form looks just like the body of a giant Buddha—kneeling on both knees, chest and belly exposed, right hand resting on the knee, left hand on a bag. Its natural shape is strikingly lifelike. This is the Foshan Sacred Site of the scenic area.

With clever artificial embellishments and the addition of a 10-meter-tall head sculpture, a 30-meter-tall open-air Maitreya appears before visitors, towering under the blue sky, with a constantly smiling, amiable expression. A stone tablet is inscribed with a couplet: “A big belly that embraces all the unbearable things under heaven; a smiling face that laughs at all the laughable people under heaven.”

Beside the open-air Maitreya, there are also six smaller stone-carved Maitreyas. They not only showcase the wonders of nature but also highlight the artistry of human enhancement. Seeing this open-air Maitreya naturally brings to mind the monk Budai.

Monk Budai: He was a real historical figure—the monk Qici, who passed away in 917 (the third year of the Zhenming era during the Five Dynasties period) at Fayin Temple in Fenghua. Before his death, he uttered the verse: “The Maitreya is the true Maitreya, yet no one in the world recognizes him.” Later generations, wishing to prove they were not among those “who do not recognize him,” identified his appearance as that of Maitreya, and his image—proud belly sticking out, face beaming with smiles—was immortalized and passed down.