The Zhongyuan Buddha (; and ) or better known in English as the Spring Temple Buddha is a
colossal statue depicting
Vairocana Buddha
Vairocana (from Sanskrit: Vi+rocana, "from the sun" or "belonging to the sun", "Solar", or "Shining"), also known as Mahāvairocana (Great Vairocana), is a major Buddha from Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. Vairocana is often interpreted, in texts ...
located in Foquan Temple (; ) in the Zhaocun township of
Lushan County, Henan,
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
, built between 1997 and 2008. It is located within the ''Fodushan Scenic Area'', close to National Freeway 311. At , excluding a
lotus throne, it is the
second-tallest statue in the world after the ''
Statue of Unity
The ''Statue of Unity'' is the world's List of tallest statues, tallest statue, with a height of , located in Narmada River, Narmada valley, near Kevadia in the state of Gujarat, India. It depicts Indian politician and Indian independence mov ...
'' in
Gujarat
Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
, which surpassed it in 2018 with a height of .
Description
Taking into account the pedestal/building atop which it is placed, the monument has a total height of . , the hill on which the statue stands was reshaped to form two further pedestals, the upper one being tall. The total height of the monument is now said to be .
The project as a whole was estimated to cost around $55 million, $18 million of which was to be spent on the statue. It was originally estimated to consist of 1,100 pieces of copper cast, with a total weight of 1,000 tonnes.
The Spring Temple Buddha derives its name from the nearby Tianrui hot spring, whose water, at , is renowned in the area for its curative properties. The Foquan Temple, built during the
Tang dynasty
The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, c=唐朝), or the Tang Empire, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an Wu Zhou, interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed ...
, houses the
Bell of Good Luck, placed on top of the Dragon Head peak. This bronze bell weighs 116 tonnes.
Inscribed within the statue's chest is a small
reverse swastika.
Gallery
河南 鲁山县 世界最高的佛教造像 - panoramio.jpg, Spring Temple Buddha
河南中原大佛 - panoramio.jpg, Spring Temple Buddha
河南大佛 - panoramio.jpg, Spring Temple Buddha
Spring Temple Buddha picturing Vairocana, in Lushan County, Henan, China.png, Spring Temple Buddha
Lszydfs.png, Hand of the Buddha
Foot of the Spring Temple Buddha.png, Foot of the Spring Temple Buddha
See also
*
List of tallest statues
*
Grand Buddha at Ling Shan
References
External links
*Photographs:
Close-upFodushan scenic area
{{authority control
Buildings and structures in Henan
Colossal Buddha statues in China
Bronze Buddha statues
Copper sculptures in China
Gold sculptures in China
Buddhist temples in Pingdingshan
2008 sculptures
Buildings and structures completed in 2008
Tourist attractions in Henan
2008 establishments in China
World record holders