Tag: tallest statues

Sendai Daikannon: At 328 Ft, The Second Tallest Statue in Japan
April 12, 2023
Mother Ukraine: At 335 Feet, One of Ukraine’s Wonders
April 7, 2023
The Motherland Calls Statue: World’s Tallest Female Statue
The Motherland Calls statue is a memorial that stands 279 feet (85 m) tall in the Russian city of Volgograd, which used to be called Stalingrad. It is a monument to the Battle of Stalingrad and can be found atop Mamayev Kurgan (the word “kurgan” means “grave tumulus” and comes from ancient Turkic). Sculptor Yevgeny Vuchetich and civil engineer Nikolai Nikitin collaborated on the monument’s design. When it was unveiled in 1967, it was the tallest monument on the globe. To this day, it stands as the world’s tallest statue of a woman (without the base), Europe’s tallest statue, and the world’s second-tallest non-religious statue, after the Statue of Unity.
The Motherland Calls Statue in Numbers
The Motherland Calls statue is a female figure holding a sword and urging her children to defend the country. The total weight of the monument is 5,500 tons of concrete and 2,400 tons of metal, and it has a height of 279 feet (85 m) from the top of the base to the end of the sword. The whole monument weighs around 8,000 tons in total. The statue itself is 170 feet (52 m) tall, while the length of the sword is 108 feet (33 m).
On the trail to the Mamayev Kurgan and the Motherland Calls statue, a Red Army soldier greets the visitors. He is depicted unclothed to convey that the soldier is shielding his chest for the motherland.
Together with the Soviet War Memorial in Berlin (erected in 1949) and the Rear-Front Memorial in Magnitogorsk (erected in 1979), the Motherland Calls Statue forms a triptych (a work of art with three separate sections). All three figures depicted in the triptych are humans armed with swords.
The Woman Chosen for the Statue
The Motherland Calls’ woman figure Nina Dumbadze. (Image. VK.com)
Nina Dumbadze, the model who posed for the Motherland Calls statue, was a discus thrower. In the early 1960s, one of the memorial’s designers, Lev Maistrenko, hired her to be the statue itself. For the monument’s face, the sculptor Vuchetich reportedly used his wife, Vera.
Another Motherland Calls woman candidate Valentina Izotova. (Source: Ochevidets.ru)
In other sources, it was Valentina Izotova or Ekaterina Grebneva who the sculptures created the whole Motherland Calls monument. She was a Volgograd local. At the time of the monument’s completion, Leonid Brezhnev was in control of the Soviet Union.
The hill on which the monument stands, known as Mamayev Kurgan, is the final resting place for some 35,000 members of the Red Army. That is why the Motherland Calls statue is featured prominently on the banner and coat of arms of the Volgograd Oblast and is now widely recognized as an emblem of Russia.
The flag of Volgograd Oblast with the Motherland Calls statue. (CC0)
The Motherland Calls Statue’s History
Constructive Concept and Plan
The Battle of Stalingrad was commemorated with a memorial initiative launched in 1958 by the Council of Ministers of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. After a massive effort, all explosives and munitions were removed before the statue’s base could be set in the Mamayev Kurgan.
Soviet sculptor Ernst Neizvestny’s original concept for the monument, depicting a kneeling combatant holding a folded red flag, was ultimately scrapped. It was later conveyed that the memorial should depict a mother encouraging her children to fend off enemies by placing a sword in front of her. This concept was developed by architects Yevgeny Vuchetich and Nikolai Nikitin. (Yevgeny Vuchetich also worked on the Motherland Monument in Ukraine).
“The Departure of the Volunteers of 1792,” or “La Marseillaise”, as it is seen on the Arc de Triomphe in France. (CC0)
The inspiration for the Motherland Calls statue reportedly came from the models of earlier works. Among them is the Arc de Triomphe’s “La Marseillaise” sculpture.
The second inspirational work was the Winged Victory of Samothrace or the Nike of Samothrace. The same statue is known to have inspired another Soviet monument, the Worker and Kolkhoz Woman.
Samothrace’s Victory of Samothrace sculpture.
The Motherland Calls has also been interpreted as a contemporary representation of the Greek deity Nike or the Roman goddess Victoria.
Building and Dedication
In total, the construction of the Motherland Calls statue took 15 years, the first 8 of which were spent on planning and laying the groundwork. The construction started in May of 1959 in Stalingrad (now Volgograd). The statue was opened to the public on October 15, 1967.
Tens of thousands of Soviet residents, including the Communist Party General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev, Defense Minister Andrei Grechko, and Soviet Marshals Andrey Yeryomenko and Vasily Chuikov, showed up for the monument’s opening event.
To that point in history, the Motherland Calls statue had stood as the world’s tallest monument. It also used to be the tallest non-religious monument in the world for 51 years. That title went to the Statue of Unity in India in 2018.
Despite the existence of taller statues, the Motherland Calls is the tallest female figure in the world. Spotlights shine on the monument to highlight it at night. The statue was lit in a unique light display called “The Light of the Great Victory” on May 8, 2017, to commemorate the Great Patriotic War’s 72nd milestone of success over Nazi Germany.
The Architecture of the Motherland Calls Statue
The Motherland Calls statue. (Image: Andrei Orekhov | Flickr)
The Motherland Calls statue’s arms are in an extremely complicated position from a technical perspective, with the right hand holding a sword and the left hand extending in a motion of summoning. The hollow monument was constructed using the same mix of prestressed concrete and steel wires that were used in Nikitin’s other famous Moscow landmark, the Ostankino Tower.
Because of the sculpture’s hollowness, the use of concrete and steel wires is crucial. The interior of the figure is divided into numerous compartments. The sculpture’s concrete walls are between 10 and 12 inches (25 and 30 cm) thick and are held together with steel wires.
When all the structures in the vicinity are included, the Motherland Calls statue’s footprint expands to an impressive 64 acres (26 ha). “Memory of Generations” is engraved on a pedestal that stands at the primary entryway of the statue.
The stone pedestal features figures of different eras paying tribute to the Red Army soldiers who have died. Behind it are stone pedestals inscribed with the titles of each hero-city.
Eleven figures are depicted in relief at the foot to symbolize the fatalities at the Mamayev Kurgan. Further on, you can see the shells of Nazi-bombed structures. Nearby, in an area named Heroes’ Square, are six miniature outposts, each symbolizing a different faction in the conflict.
There were 5,500 tons of concrete and 2,400 tons of metal used in the building, with the exception of the statue’s base. The weight of the sword held by the Motherland Calls is actually 14 tons (28,000 lbs).
The monument stands at a whopping 279 feet (85 m) in height. The female figure’s height is 170 feet (52 m) without the sword, and her sword measures 108 feet (33 m). The depth of the statue is 52.5 feet (16 m). The base itself occupies another 6.5 feet (2 m).
The memorial is significantly heavy at 8,000 tons (8,800 US tons). To honor the 200 days of fighting at Stalingrad, the statue’s foundation is reached via 200 stairs. A memorial to the Red Army’s armed forces stands at the base of this flight of stairs.
Restoration and Perils Posed by Nature
In the Motherland Calls statue, stainless steel was used in the initial construction of the sword, which was then adorned with titanium. Since the sword is so huge and heavy, it is frequently blown around by the wind, which causes gradual deformations in the area where the figure’s hand grips it.
The titanium plates on the sword are also shifting due to design flaws, making resounding metallic noises. Therefore, in 1972, a new sword made completely of steel was installed, and holes were drilled in the top portion of the sword to improve its wind permeability. The sword has a red light on its tip to warn aircraft.
The concrete structures of the statue were fortified in 1986. According to news reports from 2009, the Motherland Calls statue’s foundation had shifted due to fluctuating groundwater levels. The monument is supported only by its own weight and is not affixed to its foundations.
According to a source who requested anonymity, the monument had already shifted 7.9 inches (20 cm) and could not have moved any further without toppling. In 2008–2009, workers devised a plan to restore the Motherland Calls statue, and in 2010, they got to work.
In 2017, a two-billion-ruble ($35 million) repair project started that would take a full year and a half to complete. Repairs were made to over 64,500 square feet (6,000 sq. m.) of cracked concrete.
The Symbolism Behind the Motherland Calls Statue
A commemorative coin for the monument.
One of the fiercest and deadliest fights of the Battle of Stalingrad took place on the Mamayev Kurgan slope, where the monument stands today. The memorial commemorates the bravery and sacrifice of the soldiers at the pivotal Battle of Stalingrad in World War II.
There are approximately 35,000 fighters interred on the slope, according to the available data. The renowned Soviet sharpshooter Vasily Zaitsev, who killed 225 troops and commanders of the German army and their supporters in the fight, is interred in a graveyard nearby the memorial.
Motherland is part of the triptych of statues bearing the sword of war, along with the Soviet War Memorial in Berlin and the Rear-Front Memorial in Magnitogorsk.
The Motherland Calls statue stamps, coinage, and awards were all manufactured in the former Soviet states and modern-day Russia. The statue is depicted on the Volgograd Oblast’s coat of arms and banner.
The monument is widely recognized as a representation of Russia. The hill on which the monument stands was voted as one of Russia’s Seven Wonders in a 2008 competition, coming in at number three.
The Chinese land of Manchuria is home to a tiny version of the monument.
More than three million visitors a year come to see the Motherland Calls statue. Since January 31, 2008, the monument and its location have been part of a government district and they have been shielded by government regulation. The monument and its compound have been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Critics Toward the Motherland Calls Statue
The Motherland Calls statue has also received a number of critical reviews. A reviewer for the field of architecture, Jonathan Meades, referred to the monument as a “kitsch sample” and said it was a poor imitation of a preexisting blueprint of style. Russian artist Vladimir Tserkovnikov warned of the statue’s imminent collapse in an open letter to Russia’s then-Minister of Culture, Vladimir Medina, in 2013. He blamed this on the fact that Nikitin made numerous errors while constructing the monument.
Motherland Calls Statue at a Glance
What is the Motherland Calls statue?
The Motherland Calls statue is a memorial located in the city of Volgograd in Russia. It is a monument to the Battle of Stalingrad, depicting a female figure holding a sword and urging her children to defend the country.
How tall is the Motherland Calls statue?
The Motherland Calls statue stands at a height of 279 feet (85 m) from the top of the base to the end of the sword. The statue itself is 170 feet (52 m) tall, while the length of the sword is 108 feet (33 m). It is the world’s tallest statue of a woman (without the base), Europe’s tallest statue, and the world’s second-tallest non-religious statue, after the Statue of Unity.
Who modeled for the Motherland Calls statue?
Nina Dumbadze, a discus thrower, is the woman who modeled for the Motherland Calls statue. However, some sources suggest that it could have been Valentina Izotova or Ekaterina Grebneva.
How long did it take to build the Motherland Calls statue?
The construction of the Motherland Calls statue took 15 years, with the first 8 years spent on planning and laying the groundwork. The construction started in May of 1959 in Stalingrad (now Volgograd), and the statue was opened to the public on October 15, 1967.
April 6, 2023
Guanyin of Nanshan: One of the World’s Tallest Statues at 354 ft
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
The inside of the Guanyin of Nanshan’s pedestal.
- 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
April 5, 2023
Laykyun Sekkya: The Third Tallest Statue in the World
At 380 feet (116 meters), the Laykyun Sekkya Buddha is the third tallest statue in the world. Beneath the magnificent monument is a platform towering 79 feet (23 meters) in height. The Laykyun Sekkya is located in Myanmar in a village called Khatakan Taung near the town of Monywa. The statue is also known as Monywa Buddha. The building process started in 1996 and ended 12 years later on February 21, 2008, with a completion ceremony. Myanmar’s Chief Abbot Ven carried out the construction process. During its initial construction, it was the tallest statue in the world. Today, it is widely regarded as one of Myanmar’s top tourism destinations.
The Design of the Monument
The Laykyun Sekkya (back), along with the Reclining Buddha Statue (middle), and Aung Sekkya Pagoda (front). (Image: McKay Savage)
The base has two levels. The lower, hexagonal one is shaped like a step pyramid with rounded edges and a flat top, and the upper, circular one is where the Buddha statue is placed.
The statue and its base are both primarily golden. Inside the statue’s many levels is an exhibit dedicated to Buddhist artistic expression. However, the main statue is mostly hollow.
This towering Buddha is clad in gold. The many squares on the statue are actually the windows on each floor. An elevator can be found inside the monument for ease of movement.
It took so long to construct the monument because it was funded completely by donations from local residents which also shows how devout the people of Myanmar are.
Laykyun Sekkya’s Height
(Image: Anne97432, CC BY-SA 3.0)
The Laykyun Sekkya statue is located in the Buddhist religious complex called Maha Bodhi Tahtaung which was founded in 1960. The height of the statue is 381 feet (116 m), the height of the throne is 75 feet (23 m) and the height of all stairs is 109 feet (33 m).
This brings the total height of the Laykyun Sekkya monument to 612 feet (185 m).
Laykyun Sekkya is around 33 floors high, and it is located 7.50 miles (12.07 km) from Monywa town. Monywa is centrally located in the Chindwin Valley, 85 miles (136 km) northwest of Mandalay city.
When it was completed in 2008, it was the second-tallest statue and monument of Buddha, only to be surpassed by Spring Temple Buddha a few months later.
Today, the Laykyun Sekkya is the third tallest statue in the world after the Spring Temple Buddha (420 ft; 128 meters) in China and the Statue of Unity (597 ft; 182 m) in India. It is also the second tallest Buddha statue. Among other tallest statues, the Laykyun Sekkya is a relatively lesser-known one.
The Meaning of the Laykyun Sekkya Statue
The Laykyun Sekkya monument portrays the setting of Mahaparinirvana (attainment of the state of eternal bliss) with an upright Gautama Buddha positioned next to a reclining Gautama Buddha. The word “Gotama,” from which “Gautama” is derived, means “one who has the most light.”
Unlike most Buddhas, Laykyun Sekkya does not express a hand gesture that usually conveys a meaning.
The Monuments Around the Laykyun Sekkya
In the front of the statue stands the giant Reclining Buddha Statue with a length of 333 ft (101 m). Next to the two statues is a replica of the Shwedagon Pagoda. It is called Aung Sekkya Pagoda and has a height of 226 ft (69 m).
Below Laykyun Sekkya Buddha, you’ll also find thousands of normal-sized Buddha sculptures.
Laykyun Sekkya Statue at a Glance
Where is the Laykyun Sekkya Buddha located?
The Laykyun Sekkya Buddha is located in Myanmar, in a village called Khatakan Taung near the town of Monywa. It is part of the Buddhist religious complex called Maha Bodhi Tahtaung.
What is the height of the Laykyun Sekkya Buddha statue?
The Laykyun Sekkya statue is 381 feet (116 m) tall, with a total height of 612 feet (185 m) when including the throne and stairs. It is the third tallest statue in the world, after the Spring Temple Buddha (420 ft; 128 meters) in China and the Statue of Unity (597 ft; 182 m) in India. Among other tallest statues, the Laykyun Sekkya is a relatively lesser-known one.
What is the meaning behind the Laykyun Sekkya statue and what other monuments are located around it?
The Laykyun Sekkya monument portrays the setting of Mahaparinirvana with an upright Gautama Buddha positioned next to a reclining Gautama Buddha. The statue is also known as Monywa Buddha. In front of the statue stands the giant Reclining Buddha Statue, with a length of 333 ft (101 m). Next to the two statues is a replica of the Shwedagon Pagoda called Aung Sekkya Pagoda, which has a height of 226 ft (69 m). Below the Laykyun Sekkya Buddha, there are also thousands of normal-sized Buddha sculptures.
References
Featured Image: McKay Savage
April 1, 2023
Spring Temple Buddha: The World’s Second Tallest Statue
The Spring Temple Buddha is located at the Foquan Temple in Zhaocun Township, Pingdingshan City, Henan. With a total investment of 1.2 billion yuan or 140 million USD at the time, the Spring Temple Buddha stands at 420 feet or 128 meters tall. This makes it the world’s second-tallest statue and also the tallest bronze Buddha monument ever built. When it comes to Chinese tourism destinations, the Spring Temple Buddha statue is among the very best, with a 5A tourist attraction award from the government. The statue is surrounded by hills, rivers, and hot springs.
The Spring Temple Buddha statue location.
The construction of the Spring Temple Buddha began in 1997 and was finished 12 years later in 2008. On September 1, 2008, the statue was officially completed with a consecration. It is situated in the Fodushan Scenic Area.
The two pedestals of the Buddha statue were created by quarrying and rebuilding the hill on which they are currently standing. The monument marks the spot where a Buddhist temple named the Foquan Temple was built during the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD).
The giant Spring Temple Buddha took its name from the springs in the area. The springs produce 65,000 gallons (295 m3) of hot water at 147°F (64°C) every day, which is considered to have healing powers.
The Spring Temple Buddha’s History
The taller (western) Buddha of Bamiyan before and after destruction.
The construction of the Spring Temple Buddha was announced shortly after the Taliban in Afghanistan destroyed 1500-year-old Buddha monuments in 2001 at the Bamiyan heritage site. The ancient stone monuments were built in the 6th century and once stood 125 feet or 38 meters (the Eastern Buddha) and 180 feet or 55 meters (the Western Buddha) tall.
The Western Buddha or the Great Buddha was once the tallest representation of a standing Buddha in the world. The monuments were severely damaged during the Soviet-Afghan conflict in 1979 but restored later.
Starting in 1997, the Spring Temple Buddha took 12 years to build and was finished in 2008. When it was completed, it took over Japan’s 330-foot-tall (100-meter) Ushiku Daibutsu of 1993. The Grand Buddha (289 ft; 88 m) monument in Ling Shan was the tallest monument in China until this new statue was completed.
The Spring Temple Buddha’s Height
One of the largest statues in the world, Pingdingshan, Henan, China.
The Spring Temple Buddha is the second tallest statue in the world. It is about 36 feet (11 m) shorter than the Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt but 115 feet (35 m) taller than the Statue of Liberty.
The total height of the Spring Temple Buddha reaches 682 feet (208 m). However, the body length of the Buddha is actually 354 feet (108 m).
This is because the statue stands on a 20-meter-tall lotus pedestal. There are also an 82-foot (25-meter)-tall Diamond Seat and a 180-foot (55-meter)-tall Sumeru Seat beneath the statue. With the two pedestals taken into account, the height of the statue can also be measured at 502 ft (153 m).
- The eyes of the Buddha are 6.2 ft (1.9 m) high and 12.9 ft (3.9 m) wide.
- The hands are 62.3 ft (19 m) high, 29.5 ft (9 m) wide, and 16.4 ft (5 m) thick.
- About 8.2 acres (3.3 ha) of space is taken up by the Diamond Seat, while another 13.2 acres (5.3 ha) is used for Sumeru Seat.
In this picturesque region around the Spring Temple Buddha also stands a 116-ton Bell of Good Luck, which, according to the Guinness World Records Book, is the largest bronze bell in the world that can be rung from the outside. The bell is located in the Foquan Temple which was built during the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD).
The Symbols and Meanings of the Spring Temple Buddha
The Spring Temple Buddha has a tiny reverse swastika carved into its breast. It is a symbol of good luck or spirituality widely used by many different cultures in Asia.
Mudra, which means “sign” or “seal” in Sanskrit, is the term used to describe the various hand gestures used to convey meaning in Buddha sculptures. The style of palms and hands on the Spring Temple Buddha statue represents different messages. His left palm, open and facing down, represents kindness, and his right palm, raised up and facing outward, represents the act of teaching or reassuring.
The Buddha of Spring Temple was built in a design called “Vihara Maitreya,” which represents the Buddha Maitreya in his role as a teacher.
Who is the Person in the Spring Temple Buddha?
So, who is the person represented in the Spring Temple Buddha? The Tianrui hot spring is where the Spring Temple Buddha got its name. However, the statue is dedicated to Vairocana Buddha. Vairocana (Sanskrit: “Illuminator”) Buddha is considered the highest-ranking Buddha in the Buddhist pantheon.
In Japanese, he is called Dainichi Nyorai (“Great Sun Buddha”), and in Tibetan, Rnam-snang (“Maker of Brilliant Light”). He is represented as one of the “self-born” Buddhas, including in Nepali, Tibetan, and Javanese art.
What is the Spring Temple Buddha Made of?
The gigantic Buddha statue is mainly made of steel and copper. Approximately 3,300 tons of copper, 238 pounds (108 kg) of gold, and over 15,000 tons of special steel were used in the making of the complete Buddha statue. The statue was constructed from 13,300 copper slabs and it covers an area of 121,600 square feet (11,300 sq m).
The Cost of the Statue
The Diamond Seat.
Despite the initial estimation of 55 million USD to build the Spring Temple Buddha complex and 18 million USD to build the statue alone in 2001, the temple cost around 1.2 billion yuan or 140 million USD (120 million Euros) at the time of completion in 2008.
Since then, additional adjustments have been made to the statue’s elaborately tiered foundation. In October 2008, two additional floors were added to the base.
The Chinese name of the statue, “Zhongyuan Great Buddha,” was written on the monument by the former president of the Buddhist Association of China, Master Xuecheng, and the president of the Hong Kong Buddhist Association, Master Jueguang. The words “The World’s Tallest Zhongyuan Great Buddha” were written by the founder of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Taiwan Monastery, Master Hsing Yun.
However, with the construction of the 597 feet (182 m)-tall Statue of Unity in 2018, the Spring Temple Buddha is no longer the tallest statue in the world. The Statue of Unity is located in Gujarat, India.
The Spring Temple Buddha at a Glance
What is the Spring Temple Buddha, and where is it located?
The Spring Temple Buddha is the world’s second-tallest statue and the tallest bronze Buddha monument ever built, located in the Foquan Temple in Zhaocun Township, Pingdingshan City, Henan. It took 12 years to build and was completed in 2008.
What is the meaning of the symbols and gestures depicted in the Spring Temple Buddha statue?
The Spring Temple Buddha has a tiny reverse swastika carved into its breast, a symbol of good luck or spirituality used by many cultures in Asia. The style of palms and hands on the statue represents different messages, with the left palm, open and facing down, representing kindness, and the right palm, raised up and facing outward, representing teaching or reassurance.
Who is the person represented in the Spring Temple Buddha?
The Spring Temple Buddha is dedicated to Vairocana Buddha, considered the highest-ranking Buddha in the Buddhist pantheon. Vairocana Buddha is represented as one of the “self-born” Buddhas in various cultures, including Nepali, Tibetan, and Japanese, where he is called Dainichi Nyorai or “Great Sun Buddha.”
References
Statue Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster
The Location of the Spring Temple Buddha – Google Earth
Tallest bronze sculpture – Guinness World Records
March 30, 2023