Muli Buddha 1924

mulibuddha, originally uploaded by jiulong.

In 1924, Muli was the centre of a semi independent Buddhist kingdom, and this statue was the centrepiece of the main temple building at Muli.

"Before I left the lamas took me to an enormous chapel wherein sat enthroned the statue of a gigantic Buddha, 50 feet in height, made of bronze and covered in gilt and golden bands."

"Owing to lack of space I had to be content with photographing the [10-foot long] Buddha's head from the upper gallery, where monks were busy making silk hats for the king's entourage."

In the 1950s, when the Muli monastery was destroyed, the golden statue was carted off and melted down. A replacement has been installed but it is nothing like as grand.