Rock-Carved Statues at Yuji Mountain

Rock-Carved Statues at Yuji Mountain

The Rock-Carved Statues at Yuji Mountain are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Rock-Carved Statues at Yuji Mountain, also known as the Giant Buddha of Yuji Mountain, are located in Dafu Village, Beiyuan Town, approximately 16 kilometers east of the county seat. The giant Buddha is carved into the mountainside at an altitude of 667 meters on Yuji Mountain, backing against the rock face and facing slightly southwest. The statue stands 18 meters tall, with a waist width of 6.1 meters, lower limb width of 5.2 meters, and both the length and width of the feet measuring 1.3 meters. The cheeks are full, the ears are level with the shoulders, the expression dignified, the eyes slightly open and gazing forward, conveying a sense of serenity and solemnity blended with kindness. The Buddha has a spiral hair bun, an exposed chest with a cinched waist, the left hand raised to chest level with the palm facing up, and the right hand in a gesture resembling “turning the Dharma wheel.” Wearing thin, form-fitting monastic robes underneath and an outer kasaya, the hems of the robes appear slightly flowing, with sleeves extending past the knees. The head and lower limbs of the Buddha are fully hollowed out and carved in round relief, connected to the mountain rock only along the waist and back. The carving technique is precise and formal, though the head appears slightly oversized, resulting in a minor sense of disproportionate scale when viewed from afar. However, close-up, it retains a rustic and natural charm. A spring flows from the crevice behind the Buddha’s feet, gathering into a pool that is crystal clear.

The Giant Buddha of Yuji Mountain is the tallest carved standing Buddha in Sichuan Province. Though there are no inscriptions for exact dating, based on its carving techniques and stylistic features, it is believed to have been created during the late Tang or early Song Dynasty.

In May 2013, the Rock-Carved Statues at Yuji Mountain were listed as part of the seventh group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Protective boundary: east to Shuangzhaimen (East Gate), south to Jigong Ridge, west to Flying Stone, and north to Yuji Stone.

Construction control zone: roughly the entire mountain area of Yuji Mountain.

Dafu Village: Dafu Village…… More information about Dafu Village++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units