Very Large Buddhas
Monday, 29th May 2006 by Alex Turnbull
Seated at the top of 268 steps in the Po Lin Monastery in Hong Kong, is the Tian Tan Buddha - the world's largest 'seated outdoor bronze statue of the Buddha'. The 34 metre tall sculpture can be seen facing the long set of steps rising towards it; his right hand is raised, representing the removal of affliction and his left hand lies on his knee, signifying human happiness (Wikipedia page).
That Buddha not big enough for you? In Ushiku Arcadia, Japan, you'll find Ushiku Daibutsu, which is officially the world's largest statue. Yes bigger than Liberty, Mother Motherland, and even The Motherland (here's a visual comparison of the world's tallest statues).
(thumbnail rotated 180 degrees)
"Surely it's all plinth?" I hear you cry! Nope, this thing is 100 metres tall without the plinth (the plinth is only 20 metres). Ushiku Daibutsu is vast, enormous and gargantuan all at the same time! The Wikipedia page informs us that this Buddha has a 1.2 metre nose, a 20 metre face and a 7 metre (30 foot) finger!
Wow. That's a big finger.
Thanks to Stephan Irle, Ray Chan, Tom Cole and Roy Burroughs.
All this and Siddhartha Gautama never wanted to be worshipped. Y’know he distinctly said for people not to.
re:Tim
since when did members of any religion listen closely to the words of their progenitors?
Gautama Buddha apparently didn’t want himself represented in statues after his death. For around 600 years the only representation of any part of him, was an imprint of his foot:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_art
One wonders what he would make of these giant statues…
Not to be disparaging Buddhism, IMHO as far as religions go, it is a pretty good one! AFAIK there have not been many wars started over it 🙂
34.5031010258, lon=134.976422768
could you see this?
Pen, here’s the statue you referred to. Is it another giant buddha?
Looks like it is this thing: http://www.pbase.com/bmcmorrow/image/38687284 http://www.flickr.com/photos/nishioka/52657350/ Not much other info on it.
whoa, man, i hear hong kong has tons of buddha…
sorry, couldn’t resist.
well researched pooms, good work! It’s very odd actually.
alex, pooms yes, that’s it. thank you. i ever been there and i never try but this giant buddha could clime to his chin like statue of liberty in New York.