The study of Buddhism has inspired some of the world’s most stunning artistic creations, most notably the Buddharupa statues that adorn Buddhist temples of devotion. The Awakened One and his peace message are commemorated on 8 Famous and beautiful statues.
1: Leshan Giant Buddha
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Leshan’s Giant Buddha is a massive Buddha statue carved out of a cliff face in western China’s Sichuan province. The large sculpture depicts Maitreya, a Bodhisattva who is generally depicted in a seated stance. The statue, which began in the year 713 during the Tang Dynasty and was completed in the year 803, took hundreds of sculptors and craftsmen to complete. The Leshan Giant Buddha is depicted in poetry, song, and fiction as the world’s largest carved stone Buddha. The artwork is approximately 71 meters (233 feet) tall, with three-meter (11 foot) long fingers on each of its massive resting hands.
2: Temple of the Emerald Buddha
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Wat Phra Kaew, Emerald Buddha Temple of the is another Buddhist temple in Bangkok. It is located in the grounds of the Grand Palace. The Emerald Buddha, one of the world’s oldest and most famous Buddha statues, is housed in the main building, the central ubosoth.
The Emerald Buddha, a jade figure dressed in gold, was made in India in 43 BC in the city of Pataliputra, where it resided for 300 years, according to mythology. Buddhist monks took it to Sri Lanka in the 4th century AD to safeguard it from destruction by battle. The monument eventually found its way to Thailand, where it was relocated to Wat Phra Kaew in 1779. The statue wears three separate sets of gold clothes, which the King of Thailand changes in a ceremony as the seasons change. Also, read Most Famous Mausoleums in the World.
3: Temple of the Reclining Buddha
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Wat Pho, in Bangkok, is known for housing the massive Reclining Buddha monument. It is one of Bangkok’s largest and oldest temples, having been built about 200 years before Bangkok became Thailand’s capital. Wat Pho is home to Thailand’s largest reclining Buddha image, as well as the country’s greatest collection of Buddha images. The 46-meter-long and 15-meter-high gold-plated Reclining Buddha statue symbolizes the Buddha’s ascension into Nirvana. The feet and eyes of the statue are adorned with engraved mother-of-pearl, with the soles of the feet showing the genuine Buddha’s 108 fortunate attributes.
4: Great Buddha of Kamakura
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The Kotoku-in is a Buddhist temple in Kamakura, Japan, that belongs to the Jodo shu sect. The temple is well-known for its large Buddhist statue (or daibutsu). Amida Buddha, one of Japan’s most revered Buddhist saints, is shown in a massive outdoor sculpture. This is a bronze statue that measures over 13 meters (40 feet) tall and weighs about 93 tonnes.
The statue is said to date from 1252 and was purportedly sculpted by Buddhist monk Joko, who also raised funds for its construction. The Great Buddha, which was once housed in a modest wooden temple, now stands in the open air after the old temple was destroyed by a tsunami in the 15th century. Also, read 10 Most Famous Towers in the World.
5: Gal Viharaya
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Polonnaruwa, in north-central Sri Lanka, is home to the Gal Gal Viharaya, one of the most stunning Buddha depictions in the world. Parakramabahu the Great built this enormous rock temple in the 12th century. Four enormous Buddha images cut into the face of a granite boulder are the temple’s main feature. A reclining Buddha statue reaching 14 meters (46 feet) in length and a standing figure measuring 7 meters (23 feet) in height are among the massive stone statues.
6: Monywa Buddhas
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Monywa is a city in Myanmar’s central region, situated on the Chindwin River’s banks. The Po Khaung Taung, a range of hills east of the city, is home to the Monywa Buddha, the world’s largest reclining Buddha statue. The length of this gigantic figure is 90 meters (300 feet). The height of the head alone is 60 feet. Monywa Buddha was built in 1991 and is hollow on the interior, allowing visitors to stroll from head to toe. 9,000 one-foot-high metal images of the Buddha and his disciples are housed within the figure, portraying various portrayals of significant events in the Buddha’s life.
7: Tian Tan Buddha Statue
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The Tian Tan Buddha, often known as the Big Buddha in Hong Kong, is located on Lantau Island. The monument, made of bronze and completed in 1993, is the focal point of the Po Lin Monastery, reflecting the harmony that exists between man, nature, people, and religion. Because the statue’s base is a reproduction of Beijing’s Tian Tan Temple of Heaven, the statue is known as Tian Tan Buddha. On top of a three-tiered altar, the figure sits on a lotus throne. The Tian Tan Buddha stands 34 meters (110 feet) tall and is shown in a serene pose. To remove the affliction, he raises his right hand. His left hand, which represents happiness, is resting on his knee. Also, read 8 Most Beautiful Fjords of the World.
8: Hussain Sagar Buddha Statue
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One of India’s most famous Buddha statues is located in the midst of an artificial lake in the city of Hyderabad. This massive figure measures 17 meters tall (56 feet) and weighs 320 tonnes. It is India’s single largest monolithic statue, fashioned from a single piece of stone by a group of artists. Unfortunately, during the construction of the statue in 1992, the figure turned over and plummeted into the lake, killing eight workmen. The statue was found and it is restored to its original height and stature by the government.