Why Accidents Keep Happening in the Waters Below the Leshan Giant Buddha: A Local Water Monster Story

In Leshan, Sichuan, three rivers converge here: the Min River, the Dadu River, and the Qingyi River. Once the water reaches this point, it becomes swift. In the old days, passing boats often capsized in this stretch, and boatmen called it the "Ghost Gate Pass."

Locals say this is because there is a "water monster" at the bottom of the river that devours several boats every year. A monk named Haitong, deeply saddened by this, vowed to carve a giant Buddha on the riverside cliff, using the Buddha's power to subdue the water monster.

When the Buddha was half-carved, the money ran out. Local officials heard that Haitong had raised a lot of money and sent people to demand it, but Haitong refused. The officials threatened him: "If you dare not give it, I'll gouge out your eyes." Haitong said: "You can have my eyes, but you cannot have the Buddha's money." After saying this, he truly gouged out his own eyes and placed them on a tray to present to the officials.

The officials were so frightened they could not speak and left in dejection. This is the most widespread story of "Haitong Gouging Out His Eyes."

Later, the giant Buddha was completed. It is said that the stones carved down fell into the river, the current gradually slowed, and boats no longer capsized. Some locals say it was the Buddha's power that subdued the water monster; others say it was the stones that changed the water flow.

To this day, boats still sail on the river, and the story of the water monster is still being told.

#Folklore #网络转载 #四川 #乐山大佛