Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Center: Fo Guang Big Buddha
Gilt copper alloy
Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Center: Fo Guang Big Buddha
Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Center: Fo Guang Big Buddha
Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Center: Fo Guang Big Buddha
TAIWAN, Kaohsiung
The figure is one of the tallest seated copper alloy Buddha statues in the world. It measures 50 m high, and is located on top of a building that brings its total height to 108 m, an auspicious number in Buddhism. The statue took more than a year to cast, using a total of 1,800 t of metal.
Fo Guang Big Buddha depicts Sakyamuni Buddha seated in full lotus position upon a diamond throne. His right hand is in the lotus mudra while the left hand remains welcomingly open on his knee. The Buddha wears monastic robes that cover both shoulders but reveal the swastika symbol on his chest. The 12-story Fo Guang Building that serves as the diamond throne’s pedestal is separate from the Center’s main hall and stands behind it.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture A-F, page 337.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Lovelock, Yann and Chou, Yuan and Huntington, Susan and Edson, Gary and Neather, Robert,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture A-F},
pages = 337,
title = {{Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Center: Fo Guang Big Buddha}},
volume = 10,
year = {2016}}