Typhoon leaves Buddha statues 'looking a bit bummed'

Two Buddha statues appear with their heads hung low on Tuesday, after Typhoon Usagi ravaged through Lufeng, Guangdong Province. Photo: swsm.net

Two Buddha statues in Lufeng, Guangdong Province are looking quite "depressed" after winds from typhoon Usagi swept through the city and left their heads drooping, swsm.net reported Tuesday.

Situated outside Guangfu Temple, the necks of both Buddha statues - valued at 50 million yuan ($8 million) - cracked as winds reaching speeds of nearly 120 kilometers per hour ripped through southeastern China. Typhoon Usagi created major landslides, causing the statues' heads to appear lowered in prayer.

Net users joked the pair of Buddha statues had their heads lowered in shame for having failed to protect residents from the typhoon that has claimed at least 29 lives since Saturday, while others said that the figures were offering solemn blessings to victims.

But some said the statues were just disappointed in the quality of their craftsmanship.

Master Hengyu, deputy head of Cangzhou Buddhist Association in Hebei Province, however, dismissed the online speculations, saying that the cause of the statues' drooping heads were due to a combination of poor welding and the powerful typhoon.

He admitted that the statues' poor condition has hurt the sacred image of Buddha in the minds of Buddhists.