Ushiku Daibutsu

Ushiku Great Buddha
Japanese: 牛久大仏

Image of the Ushiku Daibutsu
Year 1993
Type Statue
Dimensions 100 m (330 ft) high
Location Ushiku, Ibaraki, Japan

Ushiku Daibutsu (牛久大仏) is a statue located in Ushiku, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. Completed in 1993, it stands a total of 120 metres (390 ft) tall, including the 10 m (33 ft) base and 10m lotus platform. As of 2016, it is one of the top three tallest statues in the world.

An elevator takes visitors up 85 m (279 ft) to an observation floor. The statue depicts Amitabha Buddha and is made of bronze. It is also known as Ushiku ARCADIA (Amida's Radiance and Compassion Actually Developing and Illuminating Area). It was built to commemorate the birth of Shinran, founder of the Jōdo Shinshū 浄土真宗 or "True Pure Land School" of Buddhism.[1]

Details

Inside the statue itself is a four story building, which serves as a kind of museum.

Level 1, Infinite Light and Infinite Life 
The first floor lobby is dark, and as you enter music floats toward you from the darkness. In the center of the room a single shaft of light shines from above onto a cauldron of smoking incense. Beyond it is the elevator to the other floors.
Level 2 (10.0 m), World of Gratitude and Thankfulness 
Mostly dedicated to scriptural studies
Level 3 (20~30.0 m), World of the Lotus Sanctuary 
3000 samples of gold Buddha statues
Level 4 (80~85.0 m), Room of Mt. Grdhrakuta 
Also on the fourth floor are windows looking out from the buddha's chest onto the adjacent flower garden and small animal park.

See also

References

  1. "Ushiku Daibutsu". Must Love Japan.


Coordinates: 35°58′57″N 140°13′13″E / 35.98250°N 140.22028°E / 35.98250; 140.22028

Records
Preceded by
Sendai Daikannon
100 m (328 ft)
World's tallest statue
1993–2002
Succeeded by
Spring Temple Buddha
128 m (420 ft)
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