Spring Temple Buddha

The Zhongyuan Buddha (Chinese: 中原大佛; pinyin: zhōngyuán dàfó; lit. 'Big Buddha of the Great Plains' and simplified Chinese: 鲁山大佛; traditional Chinese: 魯山大佛; pinyin: Lǔshān dàfó) or better known in English as the Spring Temple Buddha is a colossal statue depicting Vairocana Buddha located in Foquan Temple (Chinese: 佛泉寺; pinyin: fó quán sì; lit. 'Buddha Natural-Spring Temple') in the Zhaocun township of Lushan County, Henan, China, built between 1997 and 2008. It is located within the Fodushan Scenic Area, close to National Freeway 311. At 128 metres (420 ft), excluding a 25 metres (82 ft) lotus throne, it is the second-tallest statue in the world after the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, India, which surpassed it in 2018 with a height of 182 metres (597 ft).

Taking into account the 25 metres (82 ft) pedestal/building atop which it is placed, the monument has a total height of 153 metres (502 ft). As of October 2008^[update], the hill on which the statue stands was reshaped to form two further pedestals, the upper one being 15 m tall. The total height of the monument is now said to be 208 m (682 ft).

The project as a whole was estimated to cost around $55 million, $18 million of which was to be spent on the statue. It was originally estimated to consist of 1,100 pieces of copper cast, with a total weight of 1,000 tonnes.

The Spring Temple Buddha derives its name from the nearby Tianrui hot spring, whose water, at 60 °C (140 °F), is renowned in the area for its curative properties. The Foquan Temple, built during the Tang dynasty, houses the Bell of Good Luck, placed on top of the Dragon Head peak. This bronze bell weighs 116 tonnes.

Inscribed within the statue's chest is a small reverse swastika.

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  Spring Temple Buddha
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  Spring Temple Buddha
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  Spring Temple Buddha
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  Hand of the Buddha
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  Foot of the Spring Temple Buddha

• List of tallest statues
• Grand Buddha at Ling Shan

• Photographs:
  • Close-up
  • Fodushan scenic area