The Largest Statues in the World
Do you know which are the world’s largest statues today? Across the globe, in every culture and religion, the art of statuary has been used to represent and pay homage to great figures and deities.
Did you know that nowadays most of these huge sculptures represent different Buddhist divinities? And, of course, the Buddha himself, who tops the list with five representations. Let’s find out more about them with Civitatis!
Statue of Unity
We begin with the Statue of Unity, a monument dedicated to the politician Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founders of modern India. The sculpture is located in the province of Gujarat, next to the mouth of the Narmada River.
At a height of 597 feet (182 meters), it’s currently the tallest statue in the world. Did you know that the man honored is one of the most important symbols of this country? Among other feats, he stood out for his fight for independence alongside Gandhi.
Spring Temple Buddha
We now travel to Zhaocun Township in Lushan County, China, to be amazed by the Buddha sculpture at the Spring Temple. It’s a colossal statue representing the Vairochana Buddha and was built between 1997 and 2008.
It stands 419 feet (128 meters) tall, excluding an 82-feet (25-meter) lotus throne, and is the second tallest statue in the world after the Statue of Unity, which tops the list.
Dublin Spire
The Dublin Spire is a long stainless steel sculpture located on O’Connell Street, one of the most important streets in the capital of Ireland. Standing 390 feet (119 meters) high, this enormous tapering cone was designed by the British firm Ian Ritchie Architects Ltd.
Construction began in December 2002 with the placement of the first of the 6 sections that make up the monument, the last of which was installed in January 2003. Did you know that in its current location previously stood Nelson’s Column? A work made in honor of Admiral Horatio Nelson, which was destroyed by a bomb planted by the IRA in 1966.
Laykyun Sekkya
We continue the tour arriving at Khatakan Taung, in Myanmar, where Laykyun Sekkya is located, the fourth tallest statue in the world at 380 feet (116 meters). Also, it stands on a throne of 44 feet (13.5 meters).
Construction began in 1996 and was completed on February 21, 2008. Did you know that it became the tallest statue in the world for a few months? That was until the completion of the Spring Temple Buddha in September 2008.
Ushiku Daibutsu Buddha
Ushiku Daibutsu is a statue located in Ushiku, Japan. It was completed in 1995 and is made of bronze-coated steel. Did you know that it’s three times taller and thirty times larger than the Statue of Liberty?
Its dimensions are astonishing: it is 120 meters (393 feet) high, of which 100 meters (328 feet) are of the statue itself and the remaining 20 (65) are part of the pedestal. Also, each eye measures 2.5 meters (8.2 feet), the hands 18 meters (60 feet), or each finger 7 meters (23 feet) – impressive, isn’t it? As of 2018, it ranks among the five largest statues in the world.
Birth of the New World
Statue of the Birth of the New World
The Birth of the New World is a 110-meter (360-foot) tall statue located on the Atlantic coast of Arecibo, Puerto Rico. It was completed in 2016 and is currently one of the largest statues not only in the Americas but in the entire world.
It depicts Christopher Columbus at the helm and the three ships that comprised his expedition: the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria, crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
Guanyin Buddha of Nanshan
The Guanyin of Nanshan is a 108-meter (354-foot) statue of the bodhisattva Guanyin, located in Sanya, a city on the southern coast of Hainan Island, China.
The statue is made up of three parts: one side faces inland and the other two face the South China Sea, representing Guanyin’s blessing and protection of China and the whole world. Did you know that it took only six years to build? It was consecrated in April 2005, with the participation of 108 monks from various Buddhist groups across Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China, and tens of thousands of pilgrims – quite the accomplishment!
Yan and Huang Emperors
The next statue represents the emperors Yan and Huang, and is also located in China. This monument, carved into a mountain on the Yellow River has a total height of 106 meters (347 feet): a 55-meter (180-foot) platform and the 51-meter (167-foot) busts on top.
Construction spanned over 20 years and was completed in 2007, costing $22.5 million! These two statues epitomize politics and economics.
Guanyin Buddha of a Thousand Hands and a Thousand Eyes
We remain in China to discover the famous Guanyin of a Thousand Hands and a Thousand Eyes. This beautiful Buddhist monumental statue, 99 meters high, is located in the city-prefecture of Changsha, Hunan province.
Did you know that its full name is Guan Shi Yin which means ”she who listens to the complaints of the World”? Her number of eyes allows her to see people’s misfortunes, and her 20 pairs of arms, to come to the aid of as many as possible. She also has many faces, a sign of deep humility. Interesting, right?
Statue of Peter the Great
In the center of Moscow, the capital of Russia, stands the statue of Peter the Great, a 98-meter-high (312-foot-high) tribute monument to one of the most prominent rulers in the country’s history.
Right at the western confluence of the Moskva River and the Vodootvodny Canal, stands this work designed by Georgian artist Zurab Tsereteli to commemorate 300 years of the Russian Navy. Did you know that it contains over 600 tons of stainless steel, bronze, and copper?
Gran Buda en Ang Thong
The Great Buddha of Thailand is not only the tallest statue in the country, it’s also one of the largest statues in the world.
It stands in the Wat Muang Monastery in Ang Thong province and rises up to 92 meters high and 63 meters wide. The construction started in 1990 and was completed in 2008. It’s made of gold-painted cement – a true masterpiece of immense dimensions!
