Tallest Statue in China – The Spring Temple Buddha
China is one of the Four Ancient Civilizations. The Other three
Ancient Civilizations being Babylon, India and Egypt. China boasts a vast and
varied Geographic expanse, 3600 years of written history, and a rich and
profound culture. Chinese culture is diverse and unique, yet harmoniously
blended.
The Chinese empire was one of the most advanced and innovative
civilizations in the world. The dynasties had incredible cultural and military
success.
China is the most populated country in the world and has the
second largest land area. Its culture has influenced most of the Asian region
and also has impacted the world to a good extend.
The vast Geographic and Demographic size of the nation
accommodates many different ethnic groups. Each ethnic group has its
distinctive dialects, customs, culture and traditions and therefore it is
important to recognize this diversity.
The Chinese cultural identity has been developed through centuries
of shared history and customs.
China has one of the most collectivist cultures in the
world.
Buddhism has had a long history in China and has been
instrumental in shaping Chinese culture and tradition.
The first
evidence of Buddhist scriptures in China can be traced back to the Han
Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD).
Buddhism was
first introduced to China during the Han Dynasty (202 BCE–220 CE). It
was brought to China by Buddhist monks from India during the latter part of the
Han dynasty. Over time Buddhism became a popular force in the lives of the
Chinese.
Due to the long
history of thousands of years, China have left a large number of historical and
cultural heritage sites.
If anyone is looking
for something exciting, yet peaceful and serene, then one should plan to
visit Spring Temple Buddha in China. The Spring Temple
Buddha is located in the Zhaocun township of China.
The Statue of The
Spring Temple Buddha is the tallest statue in China and is also the second tallest
statue in the world.
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Statue of Spring Temple Buddha –
Height: 128 Meters (420 Feet) |
The Spring Temple
Buddha is an outstanding and excellent effort of craftsmanship and an untiring
dedication to the culture.
Visitors can get
a hold of the marvellous sights and breath-taking beauty of the statue of The
Spring Temple Buddha and the Mount Yao.
The following
details will provide you with details of all The Spring Temple Buddha and
enlighten you with the facts about this marvellous architecture.
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About the Statue of The Spring
Temple Buddha: |
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The Spring Temple Buddha derives its
name from the nearby Tianrui Hot Spring, which discharges water
at 60° C (140° F) and 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
Dragon Head peak. This bronze bell weighs about 116 Tonnes. The statue represents the Vairocana
Buddha (which illustrates "Shunyata," the Buddhist concept of
Emptiness) in a standing position on a lotus-shaped throne. A small reverse swastika is
inscribed on the statue's chest. The Spring Temple Buddha is the 2nd
tallest statue in the world and stands in the Fodushan Scenic Area in the
Zhaocun township of China. It is learnt that the plans for the
construction of the Spring Temple Buddha were announced soon after the
destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan. The construction of statue started
in 1997 and was completed on 1st September 2008. |
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Construction Details of the Statue
of The Spring Temple Buddha: |
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Depicting the Vairocana Buddha,
this statue stands 128 Meters (420 Feet) tall from the base of the lotus
pedestal. The Lotus-shaped pedestal on which the massive copper Buddha
stands, houses a monastery. Taking into account the 25
Meters (82 Feet) pedestal/building atop which it is placed, the
monument has a total height of 153 Meters (502 Feet). This in turn stands on two
structures, the “Diamond Seat” and the “Sumeru Seat”. The “Diamond Seat” and the “Sumeru Seat” are constructed by literally reshaping the hill on which the statue
stands. If “Diamond Seat” and the “Sumeru
Seat” are included, then the total height of the monument is a stunning 208
Meters (682 Feet). The “Diamond Seat” is an interesting
building itself. It is made up of five levels, each containing many small
shrines holding small scaled down Golden Spring Temple Buddhas. There are
over 5,000 shrines containing 6,666 mini Buddhas. To reach the statue there are two
large sets of stairs to climb. Each set has 365 steps. Additionally, once
inside the lower building there are more steps. In total one has to walk over 1000 steps. The Buddha very huge and is made
from 108 Kilograms of Gold, 3,300 Tonnes of Copper alloy and 15,000 Tonnes of
Steel covering a total area of more than 11,000 Square Feet. Made of Copper, Gold and Steel, the
statue is estimated to weigh about 1000 Tonnes and though the estimated cost
was USD 55 Million, about USD18 Million have been spent on the statue. The intricately layered copper over
the statue, gives it the brilliant appeal. |
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Location: |
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This huge statue is located in the
Zhaocun township of Lushan County, Henan Province, China. It is
located within the Fodushan Scenic Area, close to National Freeway No.
311.
There are many other attractive
tourist spots in its proximity such as the Mount Yao, Leshan Giant Buddha,
Bell of Good Luck, Zhanhe Park, Songshan Shaolin Temple, Laojun Mountain -
Jiguan Cave Tourist Area and the Home of the Yellow Emperor. |
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How to Reach: |
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Lushan is the town closest to Spring Temple
Buddha. Lushan does not have airport nearby, so it’s best to catch a bus or
book a train to reach these places which have airport as listed below.
Trains and Buses are also available
between major cities. Visitors can choose the mode of transport as per their
choice. Cost for travel by cabs will be higher than travel by Train/Bus. Note: Travel Time mentioned is
indicative only. Actual Timing may vary as per the Road condition and
Traffic. |
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Weather Information – Lushan County,
Henan, China: |
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Visiting Hours: |
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The Spring Temple Buddha Statue
opens for the public from 0800 Hrs. to 1700 Hrs. daily. |
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Where to stay: |
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What to visit: |
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Just going to China to visit only
the “Spring Temple Buddha” Statue may not be enthusiastic and one would like
to visit some more places of tourist attraction nearby. There are many such fascinating
places near the vicinity of the “Spring Temple Buddha” Statue. Given below is a list of nearby
places around the “Spring Temple Buddha” Statue that you can plan to
visit, to make your trip a more memorable one. 1.
Mount Yao – This Mountain, formerly
known as Mount Shiren in the west area of Henan Province. Mont Yao is the
mountain on the top of which the Spring Temple Buddha statue is
located. It lies in the eastern area of the Funju Mountains and is a natural splendour
as well as an exquisite spot to visit. The famous Chinese philosopher Mozi was believed to from this region and the locals is
still believe that he still lives on this mountain. The name of the
Mountain was changed to Mount Shiren in the 1950s and then was changed back
to its earlier name that is Mount Yao in 2008. 2.
Bell of Good Luck – Bell of Good Luck is in the Foquan
Temple, Lushan County and is the largest bell in the entire world. The Foquan temple was
built at the time of the Tang dynasty and the Bell of Good luck is placed on
the top of the Dragon Head’s Peak. This bell weighs
116 Metric Tonnes and is 8.108 Meters tall and 5.118 Meters diameter at the
widest point. The bell was initially made in the December 2000 and was first
rung at midnight on the immediate New Year’s Eve. The Foquan Temple, Lushan
County is 81.6 Kilometers away from the “Spring Temple Buddha” statue and it
takes 1 hour and 35 minutes by road. 3. Songshan Shaolin
Temple – The Songshan Shaolin Temple is located in Dengfeng
City, Henan Province, situated in the dense woods of Shaoshi Mountain in
central Songshan, thus the name Shaolin Temple. It is located at the west
foot of Mount Songshan. Built in 495 AD, the
Shaolin Temple is famous for Chinese Martial Arts Kung-Fu and the Zen
Buddhism wide-spread in East Asia. The Shaolin Temple is famous for the
coexistence of Chan School and martial art. It became famous during the Sui
and Tang dynasties and in early Song Dynasty. During the Yuan and
Ming dynasties, the Temple housed some 1,000 monks and became a large
Buddhist temple known at home and abroad. Today it has become an attractive
tourist destination in China. Visitors can watch
Shaolin Kung-Fu Show every day in the Martial Arts Hall inside the Shaolin
Temple. The Songshan Shaolin
Temple, located in Dengfeng City, Henan Province, is 200 Kilometers away from
the “Spring Temple Buddha” statue and it takes 3 hours and 3 minutes by road. 4.
Laojun Mountain - Jiguan Cave Tourist
Area – Laojun Mountain was called Jingshi Mountain in ancient times and
was renamed as Laojun Mountain after the founder of Taoism Laozi. At 2,217 Meters,
the mountain is the main peak of the 400 Kilometers long Funiu Mountain. Jiguan Cave also known
as Cockscomb Cave was formed about 600 million years ago. Jiguan Cave was
found in the Qianlong period of the Qing dynasty. In August 1992, Jiguan
Cave was developed, completed on March 31, 1993, and it opened up in April
1993. Jiguan Cave is a
natural limestone cave and has stalactites and stalagmites. This cave is
geologically described as a “Karst landform." According to
experts’ research, many landscapes in the cave were formed around 600 million
years ago. The cave is divided into five layers and eight scenic spots. The
vertical stratification is five, and it drops 138 Meters. The landscape
layout within the cave is in good order as if it was naturally
designed. The climate is pleasant in Jiguan Cave with a
constant temperature of 18° C (64.4° F) throughout the year. Inside the Jiguan
Cave, one can see the paths wind through high peaks. The overall arrangement
of the scenic spots is spacious and irregular. The stalactites are of
different features and different gestures. One can find 'The Heavenly Dog
Watching the Moon', 'The Divine Tortoise Ferrying the Celestial Old Man', 'The
Dragon Enwinding the Jade Column' and many others scenic spots of different
structures. One can say that the
Jiguan Cave is an underground Art Gallery. The Jiguan Cave
Tourist Area, located in Luanchuan, Luoyang in Henan province, is
118 Kilometers away from the “Spring Temple Buddha” statue and it takes 3
hours and 29 minutes by road. 5.
The Yellow Emperor Hometown Scenic Area is located on
Xuanyuan Road of Xinzheng city. This is a holy place for the descendants of
the emperor and domestic and overseas Chinese return to find their roots and
worship their ancestors. The Yellow Emperor
Hometown Scenic Area is divided into three major areas from north to south,
namely the Ancestor worship area, the Hometown Temple area, and the square area. In the Ancestor
worship area, tourists can visit the Yellow Emperor Memorial Hall and admire
the statue of the Yellow Emperor. On the third day of the third month of the
lunar calendar every year, a grand ancestor worship ceremony is held here. In the Hometown Temple
area, there is an ancient jujube tree with a history of thousands of years. The Chinese can also
check the origin of their surname and find the origin and tradition of their
family in the Chinese surname square in the square area. There is a wall of
Chinese surnames in the middle of the Chinese surname square, and there are
more than 3,000 surnames carved on the wall. The Yellow Emperor
Hometown Scenic Area, located on Xuanyuan Road of Xinzheng city, is 198
Kilometers away from the “Spring Temple Buddha” statue and it takes 2 hours
and 37 minutes by road. |
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Gallery: |
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Two different views of
the Spring Temple Buddha Statue |
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Songshan Shaolin
Temple |
Jiguan Cave |
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Bell of Good Luck |
Yellow Emperor
Hometown |
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Yellow Emperor Mausoleum
Scenic Area |
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