In recent days, due to the decrease in water levels, over 20 carved Buddha statues at the Shuofangba Reservoir in Anyue, Sichuan, have been completely exposed, attracting attention from the public.
According to a report by Red Star News, a field visit was conducted on June 19. At the site of the Buddha Ji Temple cliff carvings, more than 20 Buddha statues carved around a stone lion and a huge rock were fully exposed this year. The stone lion holding an embroidered ball sits by the reservoir, seemingly engaged in a conversation, while the surrounding Buddha statues are intricately carved and lifelike. On the higher cliffs, some cliff carvings that are visible year-round can also be seen.
Local cultural preservation officer (and resident) Deng Yongfu stated that since the reservoir was filled in 1974, the cliff carvings at the Buddha Ji Temple have almost every year revealed Buddha heads during the low water season. Additionally, there have been over 10 years when the submerged cliff carvings and the lower stone lions have been completely exposed for two to three months each year. Since 2020, there have been three years of complete exposure. This “underwater Buddha country” gained popularity after being discovered by the public in 2020.
In 2020, the Shuofangba Reservoir’s “underwater Buddha country” drew attention due to the reappearance of the Luo Han Temple and Buddha Ji Temple cliff carvings.
As recounted by 76-year-old Deng Yongfu, after the Shuofangba Reservoir was filled in 1974, the stone lions and cliff carvings at the Buddha Ji Temple were submerged underwater. However, during almost every dry season, the Buddha heads of the cliff carvings would emerge above the water. In dry years, the submerged cliff carvings would be fully exposed, along with the lower stone lions.
“The submerged cliff carvings and stone lions have been fully exposed for over 10 years, with two to three months of exposure each year before being submerged again by rising water,” Deng Yongfu said. Since 2020, the submerged cliff carvings and stone lions have resurfaced almost every year, with three years of complete exposure. Due to increased public attention in recent years, tourists have been visiting during the low water season annually.
The Buddha Ji Temple cliff carvings were designated as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit in Sichuan province in 2012.
The Anyue Grottoes began during the Northern and Southern Dynasties period, flourished in the Tang and Song dynasties, and now boast over 230 locations with over 100,000 cliff carvings, earning the title of “hometown of Chinese stone carvings.”
According to official information released by Anyue in 2020, the Shuofangba Reservoir was built in the 1970s with a watershed area of over 130 square kilometers. After the reservoir was completed, some of the Buddha statues along the water’s edge were submerged. Historic sites like the Shengdeng Temple were submerged, with thousands of Buddha statues drowning in the water, while the Luo Han Temple and Buddha Ji Temple were partially submerged. During the dry season, Buddha statues often surface, while some remain permanently submerged.
Prior to this, a similar occurrence was reported in Qifeng Reservoir in Hebi City, Henan Province.
At the end of May, the water level of the Qifeng Reservoir in Qixian County dropped, revealing a stone cave. The walls of the cave were covered with Buddha statues, intricately crafted and lifelike, with some areas holding accumulated water.
Netizens referred to this cave as the Thousand Buddha Cave, attracting visitors for photo opportunities.
On May 31st, staff from the Cultural Relics and Tourism Management Bureau of Qixian County confirmed the existence of a stone cave with many Buddha statues inside, which was discovered several years ago.
According to previous reports, this cave is usually submerged underwater and only surfaces when the reservoir water level drops. The cave is about 2 meters high, with a central main Buddha statue on one wall, surrounded by many smaller Buddha statues intricately carved throughout. However, due to the cave being submerged year-round, the Buddha statues inside have been eroded, with many missing their heads and hands.
As announced by Qixian County, the Qianzui Stone Cave, carved during the Eastern Wei period, has been hidden on a remote cliff for centuries and sank underwater in the mid-20th century due to the construction of the Daifeng Reservoir.