Tongnan Golden Buddha

　　   The Tongnan Golden Buddha is situated in Dingming Temple in Tongnan, Chongqing. Its carving began during the Tang Dynasty, and the entire statue stands 27 meters tall. It is acclaimed as the “No. 1 Golden Buddha of China.” The massive gilded statue of Sakyamuni Buddha sits facing the water and backed by the mountain, majestically enthroned on a high stone niche. Entirely covered in gold, the Buddha shines brilliantly. With a solemn expression, harmonious demeanor, well-proportioned features, and smooth drapery lines, the statue reflects the influence of the Southern Silk Road and Theravāda Buddhism, offering a refreshing impression. It is truly a masterpiece and a fine example of Tang Dynasty stone carving.

　　   The Tongnan Golden Buddha is a large-scale, gold-adorned cliff-carved Buddha jointly created by Buddhist and Taoist communities. According to a Song Dynasty stele, it stands eight zhang tall (approximately 26 meters) and is referred to as the “Golden Immortal,” hence also known as the "Eight-Zhang Golden Immortal," or commonly called the "Golden Giant Buddha." The head is adorned with spiral curls, the cheeks are full, the proportions are balanced, and the carving is exquisitely lifelike. It stands 18.43 meters tall, with a head length of 4.3 meters and ear length of 2.74 meters. The head of the Buddha was carved during the Xiantong era of the Tang Dynasty (874–880), with well-proportioned features and smooth carving techniques that create a strong sense of facial musculature. The body was carved during the Jiankang year of the Southern Song Dynasty (1126), taking 26 years to complete, and was finished in the Xīn Wèi year of the Shaoxing era (1151). Since its first gilding in the Rén Shēn year of Shaoxing (1152), the golden surface has been restored three more times—in the seventh year of Jiāqìng (1802), the ninth year of Tóngzhì (1870), and the tenth year of the Republic of China (1921). To this day, it remains well-preserved and dazzlingly bright. There is a saying: “For grandeur, go to Leshan; for refinement, go to Tongnan.” It is the largest golden Buddha in China and the seventh largest in the world.