A History of Water Ski Pyramids
Posted by admin in History Pyramid, History World on May 26, 2011
In 1922, 18-year-old Ralph Samuelson of Lake City, Minnesota, became the first American to water ski. Back then, no one could visualize human water ski pyramids gliding gracefully through the water. Consider the hundreds of pounds of weight resting upon the shoulders of the bottom tier of skiers. A boat with sometimes as many as three outboard motors at 220 horsepower must be utilized. In the highest pyramids, the top person may tower over 25 feet above the water. Each tier must be built with care. A single mistake could topple the entire group and cause injury. It is no wonder human water ski pyramids have taken their place in history as an act with great crowd appeal.
In 1928, the New Jersey-based Steel Pier water ski show had a three person pyramid among other acts, according to Harold “Pee Wee” Care who operated the aquaplane which towed the skiers in the show.
In 1942, the Cypress Gardens Water Ski Show was birthed in Central Florida. Cypress Gardens became known as the “Water Ski Capitol of the World.”
In 1948, the officially recognized first water ski pyramid in history rode the waters of Lake Eloise in the Cypress Gardens theme park. It consisted of two tiers. The twelve person pyramid became the ending act in the Cypress Gardens Water Ski Show.
In about 1950, one of the oldest of the Wisconsin water ski show teams was established. The team, the Min-Aqua Bats, hail from Minocqua, a city close to Wisconsin’s northern border with Michigan.
The year 1953 found the Cypress Gardens water ski pyramid featured in “Easy To Love,” a movie starring Esther Williams and Van Johnson. The pyramid consisted of three tiers, another first. Read the rest of this entry »
Leshan Giant Buddha
Posted by admin in History Leshan Buddha on May 26, 2011
East of Leshan City, Chengdu, is home to the Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Spot, which was named after the giant statue of Buddha. It is actually a statue of Maitreya, a fat laughing Bodhisattva who symbolizes brightness and happiness. It was included on the UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 1996. Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Spot is full of beautiful natural and historical sites, with the Giant Buddha being the most distinguished one. The best place to view the Leshan Giant Buddha is from Mt. Lingyun, so the giant carving is often called the Lingyun Giant Buddha.
Carving of the statue was begun in the Tang Dynasty and continued for 90 years. The river below the statue’s locations was a very dangerous one for ships going down the river, and many people were killed each year. The monk Hai Tong believed that by building the statue, the river gods would be appeased, and it would save many lives. Hai Tong begged for 20 years to acquire enough funds to carve the statue. According to legend, when some local government officials heard of the large amount of money Hai Tong had acquired, they tried to get it from him. He told them that he would rather remove his own eye than give the money. They greedy officials did not believe him, so he took out his knife and dug out his own eye, which scared the official into leaving him alone, and so his money was saved. The statue was only half finished when Hai Tong passed away, and work was continued by his two students.
There is a local saying about the giant Buddha: “the mountain is a Buddha and the Buddha is a mountain”. This refers not only to the Buddha’s great size, but also of the importance that the statue has in the Buddhist world. The giant sculpture stands where the Minjiang, Daduhe, and Qingyi Rivers meet. Over 233 feet in height and 28 feet in width, the Leshan Giant Buddha is the biggest colossus in the world. Depicted barefoot, with drooping ears and an exposed chest, the Leshan Giant Buddha was designed with his 11-foot long fingers resting on his knees, making it look gracefully relaxed. Another marvel of this sculpture is its invisible drainage system. The hidden gutters and channels which were scattered on its head and arms, behind its ears and inside its clothes were specially designed to preventing the giant Buddha from the weathering. Read the rest of this entry »