The Guanyin of Nanshan is a statue of the goddess of mercy. It is in the Nanshan Temple in Sanya, which is in the province of Hainan in the People’s Republic of China. Hainan is an island province in China, and the Guanyin of Nanshan is a 354 feet (108 meters) tall Buddhist statue. As of 2023, it is the world’s 14th tallest statue. It took six years to construct the statue, and it was finally opened on February 7th, 2005. Among the tallest 148 statues, China is home to 32 of them, and many are Buddhist statues. The Guanyin of Nanshan is a statue of the bodhisattva Guanyin.
The Significance of the Guanyin of Nanshan
The 354-foot-tall Guanyin of Nanshan statue in China represents the bodhisattva Guanyin. Guanyin is the goddess (“bodhisattva”) of mercy and the protector of children. Depending on the culture, this deity may be portrayed either as a man or a woman. She is revered as the sea goddess and a sign of elegance, wit, and good fortune.
“Bodhisattva” is a person who is progressing along the road to enlightenment (“bodhi”). Guanyin is the Chinese form of the Buddhist deity Avalokiteśvara. It is short for Guanshiyin which means “[the one who] perceives the sounds of the world”.
Today, the monument attracts 15,000 tourists every day. On April 24, 2005, 108 monks traveled from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, and China to attend the enshrinement of the monument alongside tens of thousands of pilgrims.
The Meaning of the Guanyin of Nanshan Statue
Objects
The Guanyin of Nanshan has three faces, and they overlook east, west, and north at the same time. The first face, called “aspect”, is holding a sutra, symbolizing wisdom, while the second aspect is holding a lotus, symbolizing peace, and the third aspect is holding a rosary, symbolizing compassion.
The wisdom aspect faces inland, while the compassion and peace aspects face the South China Sea. The compassion side also looks partly toward Taiwan.
The three statues represent Guanyin offering her blessing and protection to China and the rest of the globe from both the land and water sides.
Gestures
The gestures of the three representations are different. The first wisdom aspect gestures Vitarka Mudra (“mudra of discussion”) with her right hand, which symbolizes discussion and the passing on of Buddhist doctrine.
The second compassion figure has her arms lowered and her hands closed which symbolizes a period of time shortly after Buddha attained insight by standing in front of a bodhi tree for seven days without moving an eye.
The third peace figure displays Pang Ham Yati which looks like a “stop” gesture. It’s a metaphor for Buddha making peace with her relatives.
The Guanyin of Nanshan’s Design
The Guanyin of Nanshan stands on a lotus platform. Some Buddhists think that when one of their followers dies, Guanyin places them in the center of a lotus.
The entire statue is known as the “Guanyin scenic area.” The statue is divided into several sections, such as the main body of Guanyin, the lotus platform, and a carved base with an entrance at the bottom.
The Guanyin of Nanshan is exactly 354 feet (108 meters) tall, and it cost around $97 million (800 million RMB) to build the statue. The monument stands on a 98.5-foot (30 m)-tall pedestal, and the body of the Buddha alone measures 256 feet (78 m).
The statue is adorned with over 220 pounds (100 kg) of gold, over 120 carats of South African diamonds, thousands of rubies, sapphires, emeralds, coral, turquoise, and pearls, and over 220 pounds (100 kg) of jade.
The statue is made of mixed metals coated with a fluoropolymer surface coating that is resistant to corrosion from salt. The Guanyin of Nanshan weighs about 2,600 tons and is supported by a layer of stones under the artificial island.
The statue is located in the Nanshan Cultural Tourism Area in Hainan Province. It is a significant cultural and religious landmark in this large Buddhist province. The area is located 25 miles (40 km) west of Sanya.
Timeline of the Guanyin of Nanshan
- On August 10th, 1999, the construction of the Guanyin of Nanshan project officially began.
- On November 29th, 2000, the construction of the Guanyin Island began as the base of the statue.
- In November 2000, the Nanshan Temple was completed.
- In February 2003, the steel structure of the Guanyin of Nanshan began construction.
- On February 7th, 2005, the Guanyin of Nanshan Statue was opened at a ceremony.
The inscription on the statue reads “Guanyin of Nanshan,” which was written by the Chinese calligrapher Zhao Puchu. This monument was built with help from the National Religious Affairs Bureau and the People’s Government of the Hainan region.
Guanyin of Nanshan at a Glance
Who is Guanyin of Nanshan?
Guanyin of Nanshan is a statue of the bodhisattva Guanyin, the goddess of mercy and protector of children. It is a 354 feet (108 meters) tall Buddhist statue located in the Nanshan Temple in Sanya, Hainan Province, China.
What is the significance of the Guanyin of Nanshan statue?
The Guanyin of Nanshan statue represents Guanyin, the Chinese form of the Buddhist deity Avalokiteśvara, who is revered as the sea goddess and a sign of elegance, wit, and good fortune. The statue is considered to be a significant cultural and religious landmark in Hainan Province and attracts about 15,000 tourists every month.
What is the design of the Guanyin of Nanshan statue?
The Guanyin of Nanshan statue has three faces that overlook east, west, and north at the same time. The first face is holding a sutra, symbolizing wisdom, the second aspect is holding a lotus, symbolizing peace, and the third aspect is holding a rosary, symbolizing compassion. The statue is adorned with over 220 pounds (100 kg) of gold, thousands of rubies, sapphires, emeralds, coral, turquoise, and pearls, and over 220 pounds (100 kg) of jade. It is made of mixed metals coated with a fluoropolymer surface coating that is resistant to corrosion from salt, weighs about 2,600 tons, and is supported by a layer of stones under the artificial island.
References
- Featured Image:
- (Chinese) – Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone – Baidu Encyclopedia
- (Chinese) – Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone (Sanya) – Tourist Attraction Reviews – Tripadvisor
