Ushiku Daibutsu

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Ushiku Daibutsu

The Ushiku Daibutsu (牛久大仏?), located in Ushiku, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, is one of the world's tallest statues[1]. Completed in 1993, it stands a total of 120 meters (394 feet) tall, including the 10m high base and 10m high lotus platform. An elevator takes visitors up to 85m off the ground, where an observation floor is located. It depicts Amitabha Buddha and is plated with bronze. It is also known as Ushiku Arcadia (Amida's Radiance and Compassion Actually Developing and Illuminating Area). It was built to commemorate the birth of Shinran, founder of the Jōdo Shinshū 浄土真宗 or "True Pure Land School" of Buddhism.[2]

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(Ushiku Daibutsu, 牛久大仏) It is three times taller than the Statue of Liberty.
Date    

8 January 2007, 15:29:04

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Details

    Weight: 4003 tons
    Length of Left Hand: 18.00 m
    Length of Face: 20.00 m
    Length of Eye: 2.55 m
    Length of Mouth: 4.50 m
    Length of Nose: 1.2 m
    Length of Ear: 10.0 m
    Length of the First Finger: 7.0 m

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Inside the statue itself is a four story building, which serves as a kind of museum.

Level 1, Infinite Light and Infinite Life
    The first floor lobby is dark, and as you enter new age music floats toward you from the darkness. In the center of the room a single shaft of light shines from above onto a cauldron of smoking incense. Beyond it is the elevator to the other floors.
Level 2 (10.0 m), World of Gratitude and Thankfulness
    Mostly dedicated to scriptural studies
Level 3 (20~30.0 m), World of the Lotus Sanctuary
    3000 samples of gold Buddha statues
Level 4 (80~85.0 m), Room of Mt. Grdhrakuta
    Also on the fourth floor are windows looking out from the buddha's chest onto the adjacent flower garden and small animal park.

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Events associated

    31/12 to 3/1
    Month of April (はつまいり）
    15/08 (Lightshow and fireworks)
    3/5 to 5/5

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view from 4th floor

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See also


    http://photosynth.net/view.aspx?cid=c509bfec-214c-4576-81df-6646656bc4d0 also look for photosynth
    Daibutsu
    Kōtoku-in, temple in Kamakura, home to second largest seated bronze Buddha statue in Japan.
    Tōdai-ji, temple in Nara, home to largest seated bronze Buddha statue in Japan.
    Leshan Giant Buddha in China, the tallest stone Buddha sculpture in the world.
    Tian Tan Buddha, located in Hong Kong, world's tallest seated Buddha statue.
    List of statues by height, many of which are Buddhist statues

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References

    ^ http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/sashimigadaisuki/P1190462.jpg
    ^ "Ushiku Daibutsu". Must Love Japan.

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External links

    Ushiku Daibutsu Official Page
http://www.ushikukankou.com/ushikudaibutsu.htm