1,000-Handed, 800-Year-Old Golden Buddhist Statue Restored in Chongqing

Goddess of Mercy

The “Goddess of Mercy,” an 800-year-old statue that was restored to its original glory over the past eight years, will go on display to the public starting next month. 

This spectacular Buddhist statue was originally carved during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) from stone and gilded with gold over its 1,007 arms. 

But centuries of sun, heat, humidity and dust from burning incense had taken a toll on this breath-taking sculpture, and its bright golden color had faded or fallen off over the years, cracks appeared, and the structural integrity was compromised. 

Starting in 2008, a team from the China Academy of Cultural Heritage Project has been working to restore this relic, and their work has finally come to fruition after many years and many millions of yuan. 

The UNESCO-listed Guanyin statue was unveiled on Baoding Mountain in Dazu, near Chongqing, and will be open to the public June 13.