Stone Buddha at Jixiang Temple

　　A stone Buddha is housed inside Jixiang Temple, located in the northeast corner of Baifutu Town, Chengwu County. The statue is carved from bluestone and is nearly round in shape. It stands seven feet two inches tall and weighs approximately five tons, representing Sakyamuni Buddha. The head of the Buddha is large compared to its body, giving it a disproportionate appearance. It features curly hair, a low and flat forehead, and a sacred mark on the center of the brow. Its cheeks are flat, and its expression is serene and tranquil. Regarding the period when the stone Buddha was sculpted, Mr. Sun Xiu from the Dunhuang Research Academy believes that it was carved during the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

　　There is a local legend about this stone Buddha: long ago, a flood struck the area. The Buddha arrived with the floodwaters, making a thunderous sound, drove back the deluge, and then turned into a stone Buddha, settling here to permanently protect the region from disasters. For generations, it has brought peace and good fortune. Legends are just legends, mainly because the true history of the stone Buddha is difficult to trace, prompting some people to add a layer of mystery to make it more vivid. Such stories align with the Buddhist ideals of compassion and salvation, reflecting the working people’s aspirations for a better life in former times.