The tallest statues in the world (list + PHOTOS)

Usually statues are created to commemorate an important historical event or in honor of a famous person. Some statues gain fame on their own, separate from the person or concept they represent, as happened with the Statue of Liberty. And the tallest statues in the world become the main attraction of the city in which they are located.

We present to you the top 10 tallest statues, one look at which can cause a dizziness attack.

10. Statue of the goddess Guanyin in the city of Sanya, China

Height excluding the pedestal - 80 meters.

The statue of the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy is the tenth tallest statue in the world and presents the faithful with three different faces of a serene bodhisattva.

One face is facing the neighboring city of Sanya, while the other two face outward, towards the South China Sea. The faces of the goddess Guanyin symbolize peace, wisdom and compassion.

The statue of the goddess Guanyin is framed by flower beds, tropical trees and flags. And at her feet Buddhist monks often pray.

9. The Motherland Calls, Russia

Height excluding the pedestal - 85 meters.

This statue, located in the city of Volgograd on the Mamayev Kurgan, is the central part of the ensemble of three monuments. The second and the third are "Rear - Front" (located in Magnitogorsk) and "Liberator Warrior" in Treptower Park, Berlin.

The multi-meter figure, symbolizing the Motherland calling to fight the enemy, was designed by Nikolai Nikitin and Yevgeny Vuchetich. 5500 tons of concrete and 2400 tons of metal structures were spent on its construction. From the inside, the statue is reinforced with metal cables.

The huge 14-meter hill on which the sculpture stands is a bulk one. The remains of 34,505 soldiers who participated in the battle for Stalingrad are buried there. From the foot of Mamayev Kurgan to its top there is a serpentine road, consisting of 200 granite steps - for so many days the battles for Stalingrad lasted.

8. Buddha statue in Wuxi city, China

Height excluding the pedestal - 88 meters.

One of the largest Buddha statues in China is located on Lishan Hill near Wuxi. The statue itself and its lotus-shaped pedestal consist of 2,000 sheets of bronze weighing over 725 tons. An advanced lightning protection system is used to protect the Big Buddha, and various modern technologies ensure its protection from wind and corrosion.

The right hand of the Buddha, which points to heaven, depicts the "fearless mudra" that allows people to be brave and calm. The right hand pointing down to the ground shows warada mudra, blessing people with safety and happiness. Looking at the statue, you will find that the eyes of the Buddha always follow you, whether you are far from the statue or near it. This interesting phenomenon is due to the exceptional skills of the sculptors.

Inside the pedestal of the statue is a comprehensive three-story museum where you can learn about the basics of Buddhism.

Most of the sights, such as the Brahma Palace, Xiangfu Temple, and others, stretch along the southeast-northwest axis from the main gate to the Big Buddha.

7. Statue of goddess Kannon in Ashibetsu city, Japan

Height excluding the pedestal - 88 meters.

It is the third tallest statue in Japan. At the time of construction (in 1989) and until 1991, the statue of the goddess of mercy Kannon in the city of Ashibetsu was considered the tallest statue in the world.

Inside the statue are over 20 floors with an elevator that will take visitors to a platform that provides panoramic views of the surrounding area.

The construction of such a tall statue was aimed at attracting tourists to the city. However, this idea was not destined to come true, tourists still do not seek to Asibetsu.

6. Buddha statue, Thailand

Height excluding the pedestal - 92 meters.

The Great Buddha of Thailand is the tallest statue in the country. Its construction began in Ang Thong province in 1990 and was completed in 2008. It cost THB 131 million (about $ 3.75 million).

The entire statue is made of cement and covered in gold paint, giving it a majestic and radiant appearance. She casts a shadow not only on the Wat Muang temple, but also the surrounding "Garden of Hell", which contains sculptures depicting various scenes from Buddhist hell.

5. Statue of the goddess Guanyin in Changsha city, China

Height excluding the pedestal - 92 meters.

This beautiful gilded statue is called a thousand hands, and a good legend is associated with this image. The merciful goddess so wanted to help every creature on Earth that other gods gave her a thousand hands and a thousand eyes. Thanks to this gift, the goddess can see all those who need help and have time to help as many people as possible.

The Changsha County government, with the help of local business and religious organizations, invested 260 million yuan in the construction of the statue, which was completed in 2009.

4. Statue of the goddess Kannon in Sendai city, Japan

Height excluding the pedestal - 100 meters.

The statue was erected in honor of the Japanese goddess of mercy - an analogue of the Chinese Guanyin. It stands atop a hill in Sendai and is visible from many parts of the city.

Goddess Kannon holds a gem (symbol of wish fulfillment) in her right hand and a small vessel in her left hand containing the water of wisdom.

At the feet of the statue is the gaping mouth of a dragon, passing through which you can see 33 different forms of the goddess Kannon and twelve demonic beings, each of which belongs to Chinese astrology. You can bring some coins with you if you want to donate to the goddess, but this is by no means required.

The top floor houses 108 statues, each representing an earthly desire. Have a jealousy problem? Tormented by selfishness? Does greed torment? Find a suitable statue, put a small offering in the box, and say a prayer. Perhaps this negative aspect of your personality will fade over time.

A tourist can take an elevator to the top of the statue and admire the city below. On clear days, you can even see the Pacific Ocean.

3. Big Buddha in Ushiku city, Japan

Height excluding the pedestal - 100 meters.

The Ushiku Daibutsu is the tallest statue made entirely of bronze. Inside the Buddha there are four floors:

• on the first level, visitors can hear beautiful music;
• the second level is entirely devoted to religious studies;
• the third level is filled with 30,000 Buddha statues;
• and from the upper level, visitors can observe the beautiful gardens located in the vicinity of the statue.

2. The Spring Temple Buddha statue in Zhaocun, China

Height excluding the pedestal - 108 meters.

This massive copper Buddha stands on a 20-meter-high lotus flower, which in turn rests on a 25-meter pedestal. The majestic structure is China's response to the Taliban's savage destruction of two Buddha statues in Afghanistan. The Chinese have great respect for the Buddhist heritage and expressed this by creating the huge Buddha Vairochana, who personifies wisdom. The project cost the Chinese authorities $ 55 million.

1. Statue of Buddha Shakyamuni (Lezhun-Sasazha), Myanmar

Height excluding the pedestal - 115, 82 meters.

When you look at the photo of the tallest statue in the world, you will inevitably admire the titanic work that its creators have done. It is noteworthy that the sculpture was erected exclusively with donations from local residents. This fact explains the very long construction period. It started in 1996 and ended in 2008.

Although travelers see this huge sculpture as an attractive visual object, the locals refer to Lezhong Sasaja as a sacred place of worship.

The sculpture is painted in a beautiful bright yellow color. This color is considered a symbol of wisdom in Buddhism.

Not all travelers, even those who know which statue is the tallest in the world, have an idea of ​​the internal structure of this curiosity. The "Skyscraper Buddha" statue hides 31 floors (which supposedly belong to the 31st plane of existence in Theravada theology) and a special elevator.

The first few levels showcase some of the most horrific pictures of Buddhist hell: dozens of horned creatures beat people with hammers before throwing them into fiery pits, psychedelic wild animals chew on human limbs and stuff like that. It is somewhat reminiscent of the joint work of Hieronymus Bosch and Quentin Tarantino. Further, the paintings begin to show a clear didactic sequence: if you commit a sinful act X, you will receive a terrible fate Y.

To calm your nerves, you can take the elevator to the top floor and enjoy panoramic views of the city.

Around the statue is a garden with about 9000 bodhi trees. It is believed that the Buddha attained enlightenment while resting under the bodhi tree.

List of tallest statues in the world in history