But why make a giant Buddha statue?
Not all religions can create representations of the divine. The deep reason for the prohibition of creating images is based on the shared belief that only the divine is creative: what is known as aniconism, the belief to reject images of divine beings, prophets or other respected religious figures, or in different manifestations.
And it is that since the divine is the only creator or painter, recreating it is a form of blasphemy. Hellenistic culture did not have this limitation, and its development of sculpture has awed us ever since, as it fascinated early Buddhists: the Buddha image is believed to have emerged in two major centers of Indian art during the Kushana period.
One of these centers was in the Gandhara region, which encompasses parts of northwestern India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Images from this region are in a style that resembles Hellenistic sculpture, and artists in the area are believed to have been influenced by the presence of Hellenistic colonies and the cultural exchange that took place there.
The second center of artistic production is associated with the city of Mathura, located south of Delhi. Here the artists developed a more indigenous style, less concerned with naturalistic realism in the human form and more with the symbolic qualities of the spiritual figure. This initial closeness to Greek sculpture favored the proliferation of Buddha sculptures, which symbolize the path to a complete and profound understanding of life.
(1): Buddha with a diaphanous robe over both shoulders
(2): Buddha in a densely pleated robe covering only the left shoulder from the mid-6th century.
(3): Buddha in a diaphanous robe covering only the left shoulder mid-6th century,
Because Buddha is not simply a name but also a title, the Giant Buddha sculptures are meant to symbolize the process by which one can gain a complete and profound understanding of life with the full force of monumentality, achieved through a collective social effort. Buddha statues and images are not only physical representations of his appearance, but are also symbols of the teachings, good luck, inner peace, and motivating force that every human being should have.
A historical legacy
Giant Buddha statues have been erected in Thailand for centuries. In general, Buddha statues are representations of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, and are usually made of bronze, stone, or marble. Many of these statues are found in Buddhist temples and are considered sacred objects by the Thai people. A few months ago we shared in our Newsletter From Siam our TOP of these sculptures and, by popular request, we are going to tell you everything about these monuments:
The Great Buddha of Thailand
Located in the Wat Muang Monastery, at 92 meters high, it is the tallest in Thailand and the ninth largest Giant Buddha in the world.
The Great Buddha of Thailand, also known as The Big Buddha, Phra Buddha Maha Nawamin, and Mahaminh Sakayamunee Visejchaicharn, is an impressive statue located in Wat Muang temple in Ang Thong province. It was completed in 2008 after 18 years of construction and is the tallest statue in Thailand, measuring 92 meters high and 63 meters wide.
The statue is painted gold and made of concrete, and is in the sitting posture called the Maravijaya pose. It was built in honor of King Bhumibol of Thailand, using money donated by faithful Buddhists, following a donation system similar to that of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona. The budget for the statue was approximately 104,200,000 baht, almost 3 million euros.
Además de la Gran Estatua de Buda, hay otras esculturas que representan a dioses, reyes de Tailandia y eventos de la Guerra Siamo-Birmania. También hay un parque alrededor de la estatua donde crecen flores de loto. El Gran Buda gigante de Tailandia es una atracción turística popular y es un testimonio del amor y la devoción de los tailandeses por Buda y su enseñanza, un amor que os compartimos con esta publicación en nuestro blog.
Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Eknakakiri
At 45 meters tall, it is the third tallest statue in Thailand, located on the highest hill in Phuket.
Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Eknakakiri, also known as the Giant Buddha of Hat Yai, is an impressive seated statue of Wonder Buddha in Phuket. In 2002, the construction of the Great Buddha of Phuket began, with the laying of the first stone by General Phijit Kulawanich, on May 22 of that same year. Officially known as 'Phraphutthamingmongkhol-akenagakhiri Buddha', his name means 'Bliss on the top of Nakerd Mountain'.
The statue is located on a hill, which can be accessed by a staircase with 306 steps. At the base of the statue is a meditation hall and a gallery with murals depicting the life of the Buddha. This giant Buddha is considered one of the most sacred Buddha images in Thailand, and many believe that making an offering there can bring good luck and fortune. In 2011, the statue suffered minor damage from an earthquake, but it was repaired and reopened to the public soon after.
Wat Phra That Doi Kham
It is believed to be the oldest, built in AD 687, but the fact that it is older does not make it smaller, as its 17 meters high demonstrate.
The Giant Buddha statue at Wat Phra That Doi Kham is an impressive structure that stands 17 meters high. It is built of cement and gold and stands on top of a hill in Chiang Mai. Although the statue dates from the 7th century, it was restored in the 16th century. In addition to being one of the main tourist attractions in the city, the place is sacred and of great religious importance to Thai Buddhists. The hill offers panoramic views of the city and its surroundings, making it a popular place for hiking. The area around the statue is full of fun souvenir shops where visitors can buy local souvenirs and crafts.
The reclining Buddha of Wat Pho
The statue, 46 meters long and 15 meters high, is built of brick and stucco, lacquered and bathed in gold.
The Reclining Buddha Wat Pho statue is even more impressive in person. Entirely covered in gold leaf and colossal in size, it is amazing to see how it fits perfectly into the temple where it stands, with barely enough space for visitors to walk through the two corridors that surround it. At the rear of the Wat Pho temple, you can find numerous containers and urns with coins: an example of the Buddhist tradition of giving alms. If visitors wish to participate in this practice, they can take one of the urns and place the coins in the bowls provided for it.
Phra Buddha Metta Pracha Thai
The tallest giant bronze Buddha, at 32 meters, was an architectural challenge due to the softness of this metal.
Its name, Phra Buddha Metta Pracha Thai Trailokanath Gandhararath Anusorn, is almost as long as the statue, situated amid its manicured gardens.
It is in the abhaya mudra pose, with the right hand raised, palm out, fingers up. It is located in a huge modern 512,000 square meter temple in Don Saeb Village, about 60 km northeast of Kanchanaburi.
