Guanyin Statue of Hainan

The Guanyin Statue of Hainan, also known as Guan Yin of the South Sea of Sanya, is a 108 metre tall statueof the bodhisattva Guan Yin, sited on the south coast of China's island province Hainanin the Nanshan Culture Tourism Zone near the Nanshan Temple west of Sanya. [ [http://www.chinasanya.com/Artcle/0103/20051017/94710.htm Nanshan Culture Tourism District] ] [ [http://www.china-guide.de/english/a_profile__of_china/hainan_province/nanshan.html Nanshan – Sanya 南山三亚市] ] The statue has three aspects; one side faces inland and the other two face the South China Sea, to represent blessing and protection by Guan Yin of China and the whole world. One aspect depicts Guan Yin cradling a sutra in the left hand and gesturing the Vitarka Mudra with the right, the second with her palms crossed, holding a string of prayer beads, and the third holding a lotus. The mantra "Om mani padme hum" is written in Tibetan script around each aspects' halo. This is currently the third tallest statue in the world.

The statue took six years to build and was enshrined on April 24, 2005,with the participation of 108 eminent monks from various Buddhist groupsin Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao and Mainland China, and tens of thousands of pilgrims. The delegation also included monks from the Theravada and Vajrayana traditions. [Citation
last = Xiao
first = Feng
publication-date = 2005-04-16 05:51
title = Giant Buddhist Statue Enshrined in Hainan
periodical = China Daily
url = http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-04/16/content_434745.htm] [Citation
publication-date = 2005-04-24 04:38:56
title = Holy statue of Guanyin Buddha unveiled
periodical = Xinhua English
url = http://english.sina.com/china/1/2005/0424/28898.html]

ee also

* List of statues by height

References

External links

* [http://www.archibase.net/archinews/14805.html Top 10 highest monuments - Architecture Portal News] (4 photos)
* [http://www.panoramio.com/map/#lt=18.295861&ln=109.207363&z=4&k=2 Photos at Panoramio]