The 7 Tallest Statues in the World

You could say this is art of the highest level, both literally and figuratively speaking. Statues have always been a way for people to show their devotion to religion and a way to remember historical figures. Apparently the bigger they are, the better, so here are the seven tallest statues in the world:

7. Statue of Peter the Great

The statue of Peter I, in Moscow, Russia has a very strange history behind it. Legend says it was designed by Zurab Tsereteli, a Georgian architect, as a representation of Christopher Columbus, but after being rejected by the US Government, it was sold to Russia as a representation of Peter the Great.

It is 96 meters tall and it has often earned the title of one of the ugliest statues in the world.

 

6. Sendai Daikanon

This 100-meters-high statue lies in the city of Sendai, Japan, next to a 12-story hotel that looks like a small house in comparison. Sendai Daikanon was built in the 1980s by a local businessman, for tax purposes.

This huge representation of boddhisatva Kannon has an elevator that takes tourists to the top, where they can enjoy some truly spectacular sights. If you’re in top physical condition, you can take the stairs on your way down, and admire the endless small Buddha statues that adorn the hallway.

5. Statue of Huang Di and Yan Di

 

Located in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province, China, the statue of Huang Di and Yan Di is 106 meters tall. Completed in 2007, it is considered, by many experts, a monument that commemorates Chinese politics and economy.

Hunag Di and Yan Di are two legendary kings regarded as the earliest ancestors of the Chinese people.

 

4. Guanyin Statue of Hainan

Measuring 108 meters in length, the Guanyin Statue, in China’s Hainan province, is the second tallest statue in the world. It took six years to complete, and it was enshrined in 2005, with the participation of 108 eminent monks.

The statue has 3 facades, one is facing mainland China, while the other two face the South China Sea, representing the goddess’ blessing on China and the entire world.

3. Ushiku Daibatsu

 

Standing a total of 120 meters tall, this depiction of Amitabha Buddha is still the tallest statue in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records. Ushiku Daibatsu was completed 1n 1995 and since then it has become one of the most popular landmarks in Japan.

Located in Ushiku, Ibaraki prefecture, Ushiku Daibatsu stands on a 10 meter high concrete platform and a 10 meter-high lotus flower. Tourists who want to admire the surroundings can take an elevator to 85 meters-high observation deck.

2. Laykyun Setkyar

The second tallest standing statue in the world is located in the village of Khatakan Taung, Myanmar. According to Myamarese authorities this is actually the tallest statue on Earth, but its official size, 116 meters, only makes it the runner up.

Construction of the Lakyun Setkyar statue began in 1996 and the completion ceremony took place on February 21^st, 2008. It is now gaining popularity as one of Myanmar’s greatest tourist attractions.

1. Spring Temple Buddha

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According to Wikipedia, the statue depicting Vairocana Buddha in Lushan, China, is the tallest statue in the world. The official height of the Spring Temple Buddha is 128 meters, but if we take into account the height of the pedestals on which it stands, it is said it now 208 meters tall.

Announced after the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan, the exact time of the statue’s completion is unknown, and English information about it is very scarce.