A Single Pebble and the Single Pebble Village

niche at Single Pebble is still visited by local worshippers. When the Three Gorges Dam is completed, the feet of the Buddha will be completely submerged. This unique place of worship will lose its battle to the river in much the same way that Old Pebble did. Access to the site will be impossible, except by boat. It is expected that the flooding of the site will irreparably damage the sculpture and ruin its structural base.

While the site at Single Pebble Village is far less well-known than other archaeological sites, such as the grottoes of Dazu or the Leshan Giant Buddha, it is no less important. However, because of its lesser-known status, it is unlikely that any great effort will be made to save this site from the ravages of the river. It seems the struggle that prevails throughout the book, A Single Pebble, continues today, between old world "tradition" and modern day "progress". Which will win?

For more information on the Single Pebble Village site:

Read Dr. Elizabeth Childs-Johnson's article "The Southern Cradle of Chinese Civilization: The Three Gorges" which was published in Asian Art Newspaper in the March 1999 edition.

Stop the Three Gorges Dam

A Single Pebble available at Amazon.com

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