Buddha statues at Bamiyan

The Buddha statues at Bamiyan, consisting of two Buddha statues carved into the rocky mountains of Bamiyan, Afghanistan, have been recognized by Unesco as a Cultural Heritage in 2003.

These are the two largest statues in the world carved into stone mountains . These two statues date back about 1,500 years ago. A 53m high statue and the remaining 38m high. The sad thing is that in March 2011, the Taliban government used explosives to knock down both statues. The whole world has helplessly witnessed the sight of two collapsed statues with regret that cannot be expressed in words. This Taliban non-cultural action has enraged the world and condemned it.

The statue, after being destroyed, has only 1 large cavity left on the rocky mountain.

Back in history, Afghanistan is the center of Buddhism flourishing around the time of the early AD thanks to the merit of Dharma of the great Asoka (Asoka) in the third century BC. This is the only silk road connecting the regions from East to West, from India and regional countries. High Buddhist monks often accompany merchants to propagate Dharma in new lands by this way. They often rested in the beautiful, long-time Bamiyan Valley, which became the center of spreading the Dharma, and the two tallest Buddha images in the world were also created at the beginning of this time. Even some famous Buddhist monks and historians in Buddhist history also appeared from this place. By the 7th century, Islam poured into Afghanistan, Buddhism was at risk of being annexed, the nobles increased slowly leaving Bamiyan. Buddhism here loses its status, leaving only temples and Buddha statues. Over time, temples were destroyed, the statues were also lost or destroyed. The two famous Bamiyan Buddha statues exist for over 1,500 years because they are touched by the cliff.

According to historical records of the time of the creation of the small Buddha statue (about 38m high) is in 507, the big Buddha statue (53m high) is 554. After these two giant statues were destroyed, the Taliban government also suffered perdition and it was believed to be a punishment for Taliban rebels.

Looking back from a distance, it is easy to see the image of the Buddha statue that shows the greatness of this statue.

Also after the two giant statues were destroyed, scientists discovered many interesting things: First, two carved Buddha statues are preliminary to the stone, then a mixture of soil is used. lightning, straw and horse tail feathers were dressed into costumes before coloring. Workers here have found more than 3,000 pieces of surface plastering with color-mixing materials and wooden wedges, a rope wrapped around the stone statue to hold the plaster. The dry climate in Afghanistan and the depth of the pit have protected the statue well and helped preserve the rustic part of the building.

Big Buddha statue is painted with red ants, while Small Buddha statue is painted with many colored materials. The most interesting discovery is a hand, which contains three ceramic rosaries, clay prints and a number of Buddhist scriptures printed on the bark. It can be said that the armrest is worn on the chest of the Big Buddha statue and is plastered during the completion of the statue.

The statue foot area after being destroyed only left the ground.

Today, although two of the world's oldest and largest Buddha statues in Bamiyan have been destroyed by guns of the Taliban extremist government, many Buddha statues have been and are still glorious in every person's mind throughout. five continents and in the history of mankind. The area that used to be the current two statues is still heavily guarded and scientists have carried out the restoration, preserving the two gaps in the cliff where the statue once stood.