TIAN TAN BUDDHA

Description

Essentials about the Tian Tan Buddha in brief

The Tian Tan Buddha is a true colossus and truly lives up to its colloquial designation as the “Big Buddha”. The 34-meter high and 250-ton bronze Buddha statue is namely a sculpture of superlatives: it is the largest Buddhist monument in Hong Kong and one of the five largest Buddha statues in all of China. In addition, Tian Tan Buddha is the world’s largest bronze Buddha statue and the world’s second largest free-standing seated Buddha statue. The Tian Tan Buddha is enthroned on the Ngong Ping Plateau on Lantau Island, right next to Po Lin Monastery. It is said to symbolize the harmonious relationship between man, nature and religion.

The history of the Tian Tan Buddha

Construction of the Tian Tan Buddha began in the late 1980s. The Buddha statue was assembled from over 200 bronze parts. Inside the statue is a strong steel frame to support the heavy load of the outer shell and resist wind pressure. Buddhist monks from all over the world were invited to the opening ceremony of the Tian Tan Buddha in 1993. Since its opening, the Big Buddha has been an absolute magnet for visitors and is also a very popular destination for Hong Kongers and mainland Chinese.

The statue of the Tian Tan Buddha

The Tian Tan Buddha is a representation of the Buddha Amitabha, a transcendent Buddha who is accorded the highest reverence throughout East Asia. He is seated on a lotus throne on a three-tiered altar. As with all Buddha statues, the hands are formed into what is called a mudra. These gestures have specific symbolic meanings: The right hand is raised as a sign of rejecting suffering, the left hand rests in the lap in a gesture of giving. On his chest, the Buddha wears the swastika, a sacred symbol of good fortune.

The Buddha statue is surrounded by six smaller bronze statues representing gods or immortals, each holding up in their hands various symbolic objects towards the Buddha, embodying the six virtues of the so-called “Paramita” (leading to the other shore of wisdom, i.e. awakening): these are generosity, patience, meditation, morality, willpower (constant effort) and wisdom. The statue is called Tian Tan Buddha because its base was designed to resemble the Altar of Heaven or Temple of Heaven in Beijing. Atypical for Buddha statues, he also looks north, towards Beijing.

The way to the Tian Tan Buddha

Visitors must climb 268 steps to reach the platform below the lotus throne where the Buddha sits. For those with walking difficulties, there is a small, winding driveway up to the statue. On the platform, the Buddha statue can be circumnavigated. On clear days, you can see all the way to Macau from the platform. Inside the throne platform under the Buddha is a three-story exhibition hall. There is a fee to enter the exhibition halls (but access to the Buddha is free).

By the way, the easiest (and also most spectacular) way to Tian Tan Buddha is the Ngong Ping 360 cable car, which takes you directly from the Tung Chung district in the valley to the plateau of Ngong Ping, where the Buddha statue stands. By the way, if you have seen the Tian Tan Buddha, you should also pay a visit to the Po Lin Monastery right next to it. It is one of the most beautiful Buddhist monasteries in Hong Kong.