Saturday, April 30, 2011

The Great Buddha Of Nara

The largest bronze image in the world is housed in the largest wooden building in the world. Work on the great Buddha commenced in 743 on order of the Emperor of Japan and was finished in 752. The statue, which is 14.98 m (49.1 f) high and weighs 380 tons, is not made out of bronze plates as for example the Statue of Liberty is, but was actually caste. Exactly how this was done is uncertain but must have required astonishing technological planning and sophistication. The temple that houses it has been damaged by fire several times since it was built. The head of the great Buddha fell off in 855 but was restored soon after. This is an interesting video on the construction of the great Buddha.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Bhante,

The Buddha statue in Nara is made of copper not bronze. Been there last Dec but did not realise it's the largest copper Buddha statue in the world then. Still it was impressive.

Thanks for Sharing

SY

Shravasti Dhammika said...

Dear Blueiceman,
Thanks for the correction.

Ken and Visakha said...

Sorry but Ven. Dhammika was right, it is made of cast bronze.