As of 2011, The Spring Temple Buddha in Henan, China, claims the title of the tallest statue in the world. Made up of 1,100 sections of copper cast, it stands 336 feet above a 66-foot lotus throne over an 82-foot pedestal, making its grand height a total of 484 feet. The statue, which depicts Vairocana Buddha, generally is regarded as a symbolization of the inherent emptiness that embodies all conditioned life. It is widely speculated that China began construction of the Spring Temple Buddha in response to the 2001 destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan by the Taliban.
The Laykyun Setkyar is located in Khatakan Taung Village, Myanmar, about 85 miles northwest of Mandalay. Standing 380 feet above a 44-foot throne, the golden-colored statue measures a total of 424 feet. Construction commenced in 1996 and officially completed on February 21, 2008, in celebration of full-moon day. Since its opening ceremony, the Laykyun Setkyar has generated an increasing flow of visitors and serves as the country's leading tourist attraction.
The Ushiku Daibutsu, also known as Ushiku Arcadia, is located in Ushiku, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. Completed in 1993, it is coated with a bronze plate and stands 394 feet tall. The statue depicts Amitabha Buddha and celebrates the birth of Shinran, father of Jodo Shinshu, a branch of Buddhism that is mainly practiced in Japan. Inside the Ushiku Daibutsu is a four-story museum and elevator that lifts visitors 280 feet to an observation room.
The Great Buddha of Thailand, or Mahaminh Sakayamunee Visejchaicharn, is situated in the Wat Muang Monestary, just north of Bangkok. This golden statue is made of cement and sits 302 feet above ground. It embodies Theravada, or "The School of the Elders," which is one of the two main branches of Buddhism, the other being Mahayana, or "The Great Vehicle." This statue took 13 years to construct and serves as Thailand's largest statue in 2011.
The Lingshan Grand Buddha (lingshan.org), pronounced Lingshan Da Fo in Mandarin, is located in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, about 80 miles east of Shanghai. It measures 288 feet in height and weighs 725 tons, making it the world's tallest copper statue in 2011. The Buddha's right hand symbolizes elimination of suffering, the left hand wishes happiness upon the world, and the emblem on his chest represents virtue. Situated in the Xiangfu Temple, this landmark attracts around 2 million tourists each year.
