Chongqing, May 5 (Zhongxin Net) -- "North Dunhuang, South Dazu". The Dazu stone carvings are the second grotto world cultural heritage in China after the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes. Through the vicissitudes of the sea and the change of time, "Treasure on the Cliff" can still carry out a dialogue with people across time and space, and is inseparable from the persistence and care of generations of people.
On May 5, the "28 National Baijiarong Media Reporter Chongqing Trip" walked into Dazu to appreciate the charm of Dazu stone carvings up close, and see how Dazu retains this cultural treasure for future generations and continues its "life".
Dazu stone carved statue of Reclining Buddha on Baoding Mountain. Photo by Huang Yuhan
The Dazu stone carvings are known for their grand scale, exquisite carvings, diverse subject matter, rich connotation and well-preserved statues, and are known as "the last monument in the history of Chinese cave art". In front of the statue of the reclining Buddha on Dazu Stone Carved Baoding Mountain, tourists lingered and marveled at the exquisite stone carvings.
"Look at that black place," Jiang Siwei, vice president of the Dazu Stone Carving Research Institute, said, looking at the smudges on the reclining Buddha statue, "this is the damage caused by groundwater in the past." Jiang Siwei told reporters that water control in the grotto is a difficult problem, and if the water is not cured, many follow-up restoration work cannot be carried out. "So in this process, we practiced and studied repeatedly, consulted with experts, and thought of many ways," he said, "now we have controlled the groundwater and will not let it flow to the surface of the reclining Buddha."
Statue of Kannon with a thousand hands. Photo by Huang Yuhan
In the process of cultural relics restoration, the application of modern science and technology has provided new impetus. According to Jiang Siwei, when restoring the statue of Guanyin with a thousand hands, in order to explore the internal structure of his arm, he also "filmed" the cultural relics like a hospital taking CT for a patient. In addition, the "Senju Kannon Microenvironment Monitoring Station" has been set up to monitor changes in the environment of small areas, such as carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide.
Thousand Hands Guanyin Microenvironment Monitoring Station. Photo by Huang Yuhan
Speaking about the protection of cultural relics of Dazu stone carvings, Jiang Siwei said: "This is passed down from generation to generation, and we must have this awareness. It is very important that we build a whole, echeloned, and professional talent team. In addition, Jiang Siwei also pointed out that it is necessary to form a long-term work plan in the process of establishing a talent team.
Reinforcement material test samples. Photo by Huang Yuhan
"The long history and huge scale make the Dazu stone carvings a treasure land with unique cultural tourism resources." The relevant person in charge of Dazu District said that Dazu District adheres to protection first, rationally develops and utilizes cultural and tourism resources, and truly and completely protects and inherits cultural relics and intangible cultural heritage.
In recent years, Dazu has strengthened the protection of cave temples, carried out projects such as repair and protection, emergency reinforcement and rescue protection to varying degrees, strictly implemented the supervision system for the protection of cultural relics, and increased the protection and control of cultural relics. Carry out a special survey of cave temples in the whole region, compile a list of cultural relics of cave temples in Dazu District, and prepare for the construction of the Bashu Grotto Museum.
Under the persistence and care of generations of people, the "life" of cultural relics has been continued, and ancient civilizations have been inherited. The dazu stone carving, a brilliant "pearl", will continue to shine in front of the world and show the world the splendor and splendor of Chinese culture. (End)