Spring Temple Buddha

The Zhongyuan Buddha (Chinese: 中原大佛; pinyin: zhōngyuán dàfú; lit. 'Big Buddha of the Great Plains' and simplified Chinese: 鲁山大佛; traditional Chinese: 魯山大佛) or better known in English as the Spring Temple Buddha is a colossal statue depicting Vairocana Buddha located in Foquan Temple (Chinese: 佛泉寺; pinyin: fó quán sì; lit. 'Buddha Natural-Spring Temple') in the Zhaocun township of Lushan County, Henan, China, built between 1997 and 2008. It is located within the Fodushan Scenic Area, close to National Freeway 311. At 128 metres (420 ft), excluding a 25 metres (82 ft) lotus throne, it is the second-tallest statue in the world after the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, India, which surpassed it in 2018 with a height of 182 metres (597 ft).^[2][3]

Spring Temple Buddha

中原大佛
Spring Temple Buddha with its pedestals
33°46′30″N 112°27′03″E
Location	Foquan Temple, Fodushan Scenic Area, Lushan County, Henan, China
Type	Statue
Material	copper cast
Height	statue: 128 metres (420 ft) including base: 208 metres (682 ft) [1]
Completion date	1 September 2008
Dedicated to	Vairocana Buddha

Description

Taking into account the 25 metres (82 ft) pedestal/building atop which it is placed, the monument has a total height of 153 metres (502 ft). As of October 2008^[update], the hill on which the statue stands was reshaped to form two further pedestals, the upper one being 15 m tall. The total height of the monument is now said to be 208 m (682 ft).^[4][5]

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.^[6]

The Spring Temple Buddha derives its name from the nearby Tianrui hot spring, whose water, at 60 °C (140 °F), is renowned in the area for its curative properties. The Foquan Temple, built during the Tang dynasty, houses the Bell of Good Luck, placed on top of the Dragon Head peak. This bronze bell weighs 116 tonnes.^[7]

Inscribed within the statue's chest is a small reverse swastika.

Gallery

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  Spring Temple Buddha
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  Spring Temple Buddha
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  Spring Temple Buddha
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  Spring Temple Buddha
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  Hand of the Buddha
• 
  Foot of the Spring Temple Buddha

See also

• China portal
• Religion portal

Approximate heights of various notable statues:

1. Statue of Unity 240 m (790 ft) (incl. 58 m (190 ft) base)
2. Spring Temple Buddha 153 m (502 ft) (incl. 25 m (82 ft) pedestal and 20 m (66 ft) throne)
3. Statue of Liberty (Liberty Enlightening the World) 93 m (305 ft) (incl. 47 m (154 ft) pedestal)
4. The Motherland Calls 87 m (285 ft) (incl. 2 m (6 ft 7 in) pedestal)
5. Christ the Redeemer 38 m (125 ft) (incl. 8 m (26 ft) pedestal)
6. Michelangelo's David 5.17 m (17.0 ft) (excl. 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) plinth)

• List of tallest statues
• Grand Buddha at Ling Shan

References

1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-12-28. Retrieved 2008-10-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
2. (in Chinese) "中国佛山金佛-153米卢舍那佛 - 墨宝斋" (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2008-09-01.
3. 斯威夫特著（英）乔纳森 (2018). 格列佛游记. 义务教育语文新课标必读丛书 (in Chinese). 新华出版社. p. 258. ISBN 978-7-5166-4003-6. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
4. (in Chinese) "世界第一大佛鲁山大佛" (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2008-12-28.
5. 红星闪耀中原 (in Chinese). BEIJING BOOK CO. INC. 2023. p. 271. ISBN 978-7-5559-1433-4. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
6. "China enters biggest Buddhist statue race". BBC News. 6 May 2001.
7. "Fodushan Scenic Area". Archived from the original on 2018-09-30. Retrieved 2010-01-01.

External links

• Photographs:
  • Close-up
  • Fodushan scenic area

Records
Preceded by Laykyun Sekkya 116 m (381 ft)	World's tallest statue 2008–2018	Succeeded by Statue of Unity 182 m (597 ft)