The mystery of the 'Buddha's tears' of the giant Leshan Buddha statue: Scientific phenomenon or legend?

The giant Buddha statue in Leshan, Sichuan, China is not only a great symbol of Buddhist sculpture and belief but also contains many mysterious and thrilling stories.

For over a thousand years, this Buddha statue has been the subject of many legends, in which the phenomenon of "the statue shedding tears" has made many people curious and created colorful spiritual stories. But the question is, is the phenomenon of tears of the Leshan Buddha statue a sign of something supernatural, or is it just a natural phenomenon explained by science?

Leshan Giant Buddha Statue.

The Leshan Giant Buddha is located at the confluence of the Min and Qingyi Rivers, at the foot of Mount Emei. Standing 71 meters tall, it is one of the largest Buddha statues in the world, and was started in 713 during the Tang Dynasty and completed in 803. The statue is not only a work of stone art but also has profound spiritual significance for the people living in the area.

The statue was built to protect people from floods from the Min River. In the people's belief, building a Buddha statue at this strategic location will help control the flow of the river and bring peace to the surrounding areas. The Buddha statue is carved directly into the cliff, with a gentle face and a majestic sitting posture, expressing the Buddha's compassion for all living beings.

During its nearly 90-year construction period, the statue has become a spiritual symbol not only of Sichuan but also of the entire southwest region of China. Locals regard the Leshan Giant Buddha as a symbol of protection, and the statue has become a popular pilgrimage site for Buddhists from around the world.

One of the most famous phenomena associated with the Leshan Buddha is that the statue sometimes 'sheds tears .' According to legend, whenever a major disaster occurs, such as a natural disaster or war, local people often witness the Leshan Buddha shedding tears. This phenomenon has occurred many times throughout history, and the most famous was after the great Sichuan earthquake in 738. Locals say that after the earthquake, the statue began to shed tears, leading many to believe that the Buddha was weeping for the souls of those who died in the disaster.

Local people regard the giant Leshan Buddha statue as a symbol of protection.

The story of the Buddha's tears quickly spread and became a legend associated with the Leshan Buddha statue. Many believed that this was a sign of divine presence, showing the Buddha's compassion for human suffering. This legend has been passed down through generations, and every time the Buddha statue "shed tears", people gathered to pray and hope to receive protection from the Buddha.

In addition to the 738 earthquake, the phenomenon of Buddha statues shedding tears was also recorded in 1976, just before the Tangshan earthquake, one of the most devastating earthquakes in modern Chinese history. It is said that before the disaster occurred, the Leshan Buddha statue shed tears, and many people considered it a warning sign from the gods.

Although the phenomenon of "Buddha's tears" has been associated with myths, with the development of science and technology, researchers have found a more reasonable explanation for this phenomenon.

 The tears of the Buddha statue are actually the result of rock erosion and the effects of acid rain.

According to scientists, the tears of the Buddha statue are actually the phenomenon of stone erosion and the impact of acid rain on the statue . Acid rain is a result of environmental pollution, especially during the period of strong industrialization in China. When chemicals such as sulfur dioxide (SO ₂ ) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted from factories and vehicles react with water vapor in the air, they form weak acids, making rainwater acidic. When these raindrops come into contact with the stone statue, they erode the surface of the statue, creating cracks and small grooves. Rainwater accumulates in these grooves and slowly flows down, creating the illusion that the statue is shedding tears.

In addition , the Leshan Buddha statue is designed with a hidden drainage system inside , which helps to drain rainwater away from the statue to avoid water accumulation and damage to the statue. However, some of the drainage holes are located right above the eye area of ​​the statue, resulting in water draining from these holes that can look like tears flowing down from the Buddha statue's eyes .

Acid rain and stone erosion have taken a serious toll on the Buddha statue over the years. Although the statue was carved from natural stone, over the centuries, environmental factors have weakened the stone and caused the surface of the statue to deteriorate. These effects not only cause the 'tears' phenomenon but also create other problems such as cracking and erosion of the entire surface of the statue.

Faced with this situation, the Chinese government has taken many measures to protect and restore the statue. One of the important measures is to improve the drainage system and apply modern waterproofing technologies to protect the statue from the damage of acid rain. At the same time, air quality monitoring and pollution control measures have also been applied to reduce the amount of polluting emissions in the area.

 The story of the Buddha's tears has become an integral part of local culture and history.

Thanks to these efforts, the phenomenon of Leshan Buddha's tears has been significantly reduced in recent years. The environmental protection and conservation measures have brought positive results, helping to maintain the beauty and sustainability of the statue in the future.

The Leshan Giant Buddha is not only a great work of art and religion, but also a symbol of the harmony between nature and man. The phenomenon of "Buddha's tears" has been scientifically explained, but it still retains its mysterious appeal. For centuries, the story of the Buddha's tears has become an indispensable part of local culture and history, reminding us of the smallness of humans before nature and the need to protect the environment.

The Leshan Buddha statue, with its stories of tears and majesty, will continue to be a source of inspiration not only for those who believe in Buddhist beliefs but also for scientists and those concerned about the environment.