Dazu Rock Carvings (UNESCO/NHK)

The prayers of people represented by 50,000 Buddhist statues Dasu rock carvings. This is Dasu county in the Chongqing municipality in China. Dasu means the place where water and crops are plentiful. It was an important town in Sichuan between the 8th and 13th centuries. Over 50,000 stone Buddhist statues have been carved into the mountain here. This one is known as the Three Saints of the Huan School of Buddhism. It's about 7 meters high. The rock carvings of Dasu were made between the Tang and the Southern Xiong dynasties. The largest one here is this lying Buddhist statue known as the Shakyamuni entering near Verna that stretches 31 meters. This massive statue only portrays the upper body and represents the unlimited size of the Buddha in people's minds. This is Wan Jiang Dong or the Cave of Full Enlightenment. It is the largest stone cave in Dasu. It was carved into the rock wall and is 12 meters deep. It was made so sunlight would illuminate the sculptures inside. Beishan Mountain has many of the oldest Buddhist carvings. This statue known as the Statue of Avalokiteshvara of the Sun and Moon is regarded as a great masterpiece. It was carved during the 12th century. The carvings started during a civil war in the northern part of China during the 8th century. Tens of thousands of people fled from the north and found refuge in the affluent Dasu area. Deeply concerned about their separated family members, refugees asked local sculptors to carve Buddhist statues and send prayers. This young artist is a local sculptor who continues to carve Buddhist statues. The practice of rock carving in Dasu became an established tradition and incorporated non-Buddhist features over the course of time. This Buddhist sculpture was carved during the southern Xiong dynasty period. It portrays Buddha looking after his sick parents. Rock carvings continue in Dasu for 600 years and represent the hopes and prayers of the people down through the years.