That is the wisdom of our ancestors and the crystallization of their wisdom. Time is an irresistible arrow, and everything changes its face in an instant. Only the ancient ruins in the sand remain the same, even if it is slightly dim, but the charm still exists, which is worth cherishing and protecting.
Treasure of the World: Cliff Statue
Speaking of cliff statues, many people should not understand. In fact, the cliff statue is a kind of stone carving with great artistic appreciation value and aesthetic characteristics. It is a Buddhist statue with stone carving as the main content, which is characterized by being placed in the open air or in a shallow niche. In most cases, they appear in groups and sometimes coexist with grottoes.
In China, there are many cliff statues. Among them, the cliff statue of Kongwangshan in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province and the Maitreya Buddha in Lingyun Temple in Leshan, Sichuan Province are the most typical. Unfortunately, I was lucky enough to have been to Lianyungang, but I passed by this group of statues. Now I can only describe its majesty in my mind.
It depends on the fact that cliff statues are really different from ordinary Buddha statues, because they generally appear in groups, from which you can imagine how magnificent and shocking it is.
According to Feng's "Golden Stone Lock": "Carved on its mountain, it is called cliff." It means that a cliff statue is a statue carved on a cliff or boulder. In China, there are cliff statues in Fogou, Yaowang Mountain, Wentang, Dagengzi and Guilin Xishan.
These statues mainly include Sakyamuni, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, Guanyin with a Thousand Hands and so on. Statues are different in shape, lifelike, or kind-hearted, or glaring at King Kong, which makes people linger.
In your lifetime, you must appreciate the miracle of cliff stone carving and trace back the superb skills of your ancestors. Imagine a craftsman who climbed the cliff, holding a carving knife in his hand, carving the Buddha's body in his heart on the stone wall. What a spectacular scene with visual impact.
Husband and wife guard together
In my impression, the cliff statue depicts a group of Buddha statues. But in fact, there are many other kinds, various and dazzling. You can see the flowing ancient calligraphy and appreciate the superb ancient paintings.
However, when it comes to grottoes, I like to associate them with Buddha statues, just like Mogao Grottoes and Flying in Dunhuang. There are always stories left for human fireworks to taste.
Speaking of cliff statues, there are many in Sichuan Province, especially Buddha statues. The most famous Leshan Giant Buddha in China was born here. There are so many precious Buddha statues, each of which embodies the wisdom and sweat of the ancients, and also gathers the value of historical research and aesthetics.
Therefore, it will inevitably attract a lot of people's attention, and any precious thing will inevitably attract covet after being exposed, so the protection of cultural relics is still an unavoidable topic.
Because of their own characteristics, these Buddha statues can't be transported to the museum for preservation and maintenance like ordinary cultural relics, but they can only stay in place, which is as dangerous as throwing meat pies in the wilderness, which means tempting wolves to be greedy at any time. Illegal thieves will definitely come here and be ready to make a fortune at any time, which is very unfavorable to the protection of cultural relics.
At this time, a couple came forward and decided to protect the Buddha statue here together. What we didn't expect was that this decision allowed them to live in the cliff cave for 23 years, get along with these 600-year-old Buddha statues and stare quietly.
About the origin of these Buddha statues, it is said that 600 years ago, a star and his disciples stumbled upon a cave with excellent feng shui. The mage thinks this place is very suitable for settlement and the mountain wall is also very suitable for description, so he chooses to carve Buddha statues here.
This project is undoubtedly huge. It took them a long time to carve more than 200 Buddha statues, which is the result of their labor and the wealth presented to future generations. It was guarded at first, but after a long time, it was no longer guarded. The Buddha was silent, and it was not until 600 years later that it was discovered by archaeologists that it ushered in its new guardian.
For these Buddha statues, 23 years may just be a little bit floating in the dust of history, but for this couple, it is their half-life. They spent the rest of their lives trying to protect the country's cultural relics from harm, which is undoubtedly respectable.
Free of charge and without complaint.
For most people, it is boring to keep a job for decades, not to mention guarding cultural relics in an almost isolated place, not to mention 23 years, I am afraid it will be difficult for a month. For this couple, they persisted and did a good job, reporting many people who came to steal things.
At first, the couple's children did not support their parents to go to places like mountains and forests to protect cultural relics. They think it's too much for their parents who are nearly half a century old.
However, the husband and wife insisted on this, and the children had no choice but to follow them to the cliff cave to protect cultural relics. When I first arrived here, my husband and wife's children set up a simple hut next to the cliff hole, and the couple also opened a field to grow vegetables and fruits, so they could be self-sufficient and live a plain and comfortable life.
Later, all the children went out to work, leaving only the couple here. Although they feel lonely occasionally, they never complain. Moreover, they also caught bandits while guarding the cultural relics, ensuring the safety of the cultural relics.
People who don't know must think they are paid to stay here, but the reality is that no one gives them a penny as a reward for the guards. Experts even made it clear that this is voluntary and there is no subsidy.
Although very chilling, the couple are very satisfied. They have regarded this kind of guardianship as an obligation and responsibility in their lives, free of charge and without complaints, and they all rely on their own efforts during the period.
They are like the masters of ancient hermits, unknown but guarding Gan Kun in their hearts. Contrary to the Buddha statues, they are like the most devout believers and have pure feelings for the country. It is worth remembering and learning by all of us.
Protecting cultural relics is everyone's responsibility.
Russell once said, "Great cause is rooted in persistent work, which is carried out with full spirit and does not avoid hardships." Life is tempering. In order to achieve great things, it is worthwhile to persist in doing anything meaningful.
The old couple who guarded the cultural relics spent half their lives insisting on one thing and achieving their own lives. In my opinion, people can be ordinary but not mediocre. We should learn from them and realize a positive and meaningful life. Protecting cultural relics is still an enduring topic. In today's emphasis on spiritual culture, protecting our traditions is to continue our roots.
Although we can't personally protect cultural relics like the old couple, we must first establish this awareness in our hearts and turn cultural relics protection into action in a subtle way.
We always say that years are quiet, but don't forget that it is someone who turns his back on the enemy that has a stable life. Therefore, we should shoulder the social responsibility, every inch of light is hot. No matter what history leaves us, as long as it is our wealth, it is worth our efforts to protect.