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Description
Hundreds of years ago, Buddhas were carved by artisans in the sides of mountains in Da Zu as part of a spiritual cultivation of China over 1000 years ago. Many still exist but are the targets of vandals seeking profit. The heads of Buddha are stolen from temples and sites all over China to be sold in the underground markets for huge sums of money. Many sites, such as this, have been defiled by thieves but people are fighting to keep their sacred objects safe for future generations. Its a very uneasy feeling seeing a 1000+ year old Buddha with no head because someone cut it off.

For the record, none of the artifacts in Da Zu were damaged during the cultural revolution (when many antiques of ancient China were destroyed).

There were guards and signs everywhere that said that you cant take photos around here but that never stoped me, this place was in a cave like thing behind another wall of buddhas, which is why all the heads besides one were stolen. I didnt want to get that thing in the right top of the frame but it couldnt be helped if I was going to take a nice photo of all the statues.

Canon 20D, Canon 17-40mm L f/4 Lens, 1/8 sec, f/4, ISO 3200 (I shot this handheld, a big no no)

Description
Hundreds of years ago, Buddhas were carved by artisans in the sides of mountains in Da Zu as part of a spiritual cultivation of China over 1000 years ago. Many still exist but are the targets of vandals seeking profit. The heads of Buddha are stolen from temples and sites all over China to be sold in the underground markets for huge sums of money. Many sites, such as this, have been defiled by thieves but people are fighting to keep their sacred objects safe for future generations. Its a very uneasy feeling seeing a 1000+ year old Buddha with no head because someone cut it off.

For the record, none of the artifacts in Da Zu were damaged during the cultural revolution (when many antiques of ancient China were destroyed).

There were guards and signs everywhere that said that you cant take photos around here but that never stoped me, this place was in a cave like thing behind another wall of buddhas, which is why all the heads besides one were stolen. I didnt want to get that thing in the right top of the frame but it couldnt be helped if I was going to take a nice photo of all the statues.

Canon 20D, Canon 17-40mm L f/4 Lens, 1/8 sec, f/4, ISO 3200 (I shot this handheld, a big no no)