Buddhism has the third-largest number of followers worldwide after first-ranked Christianity and second-ranked Islam. Most Buddhists are found in Asia. The existence of various magnificent sculptures of the founder of Buddhism, Gautam Buddha in many Asian nations is evidence of the flourishing Buddhist art forms in the region that originated from India. The Tian Tan Buddha statue in Ngong Ping, Lantau Island is reputed as being the tallest outdoor seated Buddha in the world.
Also known as ‘Big Buddha,’ the 34-meter high statue of Buddha seated cross-legged on a lotus flower throne is made of bronze. Its weight is 250 tons (Buddhistsculptures.com). It is made up of 202 parts that were completely assembled and mounted atop a massive staircase of 268 steps after three years of dedicated work (Thera). The statue was officially consecrated on December 29, 1993 during which time monks from all over the world were invited.
The Tian Tan Buddha statue is constructed along the lines of Tian Tan from which it derives its name (Ngong Ping 360). The base of the statue is round and consists of 3-floor platform altars. The first floor is the ‘Hall of Benevolence Merit’ that includes a statue of God of Earth. The second floor is the ‘Hall of the Universe’ that includes rooms in which the history of Lantau Island and the construction history of the Tian Tan Buddha are shown (Thera). The third floor is the ‘Hall of Remembrance,’ a memento of Buddha that contains some of his cremated remains; it also contains a massive bell carved with images of Buddha that toll once every 7 minutes signifying the outburst of human anger those many times daily.
The Tian Tan Buddha attracts more than 1 million visitors each year (Ngong Ping 360). Some of them are ordinary tourists interested in the artistic grandeur provided by the massive monument while the majority are Buddhist pilgrims.
From an artistic viewpoint, the view of the Tian Tan Buddha silhouetted against the sky evokes strong emotions. The first involves an appreciation of Nature; the giant statue is surrounded by lush green hills, the entire scenery teeming with freshness and grandeur of Nature at its very best. The second involves an appreciation of art. The majestic structure of the huge statue is simply awesome to behold, a grand testimony to the excellent art and sculpture skills of its makers in keeping with the general outstanding Buddhist tradition of art and sculpture (Thera). The overall scene oozes freshness, serenity, and peace, depicting a sense of harmony between man and nature.
To Buddhist pilgrims, the massive statue of Buddha in a serene, meditative pose exudes a quiet, compelling power that they cannot help being inexorably attracted to (Ngong Ping 360), drawing them to kneel and engage in deep contemplation and prayer. The piety factor is enhanced by the presence of the adjoining Po Lin Buddhist Monastery. Also known as ‘Precious Lotus,’ the monastery that started as a humble collection of stone huts constructed in 1905 is today not only the biggest Buddhist complex in Hong Kong (Thera), but it has also developed into one of the key centers of Buddhism in the world.
The Tian Tan Buddha statue provides scenic grandeur and piety that makes it a veritable oasis of serenity in an increasingly hectic world dominated by man-made problems such as economic woes, unscrupulous politics, and terrorism.
References
Thera, Maha. “Tian Tan Buddha.” Newsfinder. 2002. Web.
“Tian Tan Buddha (Bronze Statue).” Buddhistsculptures. (N.d). 2008. Web.
“Tian Tan Buddha Statue.” Ngong Ping 360 Ltd. 2007. Web.