Ushiku Daibutsu

The Ushiku Daibutsu, depicting Amitabha Buddha

The Ushiku Daibutsu (牛久大仏), located in Ushiku, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, is one of the world's tallest statues. Completed in 1993, it stands a total of 120 meters (394 feet) tall, including the 10m high base and 10m high lotus platform. An elevator takes visitors up to 85m off the ground, where an observation floor is located. It depicts Amitabha Buddha 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.

Details

• Weight: 4003 tons
• Length of Left Hand: 18.00 m
• Length of Face: 20.00 m
• Length of Eye: 2.55 m
• Length of Mouth: 4.50 m
• Length of Nose: 1.2 m
• Length of Ear: 10.0 m
• Length of the First Finger: 7.0 m

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 new age 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.

Events associated

• 31/12 to 3/1
• Month of April (はつまいり)
• 15/08 (Lightshow and fireworks)
• 3/5 to 5/5

See also

• http://photosynth.net/view.aspx?cid=c509bfec-214c-4576-81df-6646656bc4d0 also look for photosynth
• Daibutsu
• Kōtoku-in, temple in Kamakura, home to second largest seated bronze Buddha statue in Japan.
• Tōdai-ji, temple in Nara, home to largest seated bronze Buddha statue in Japan.
• Leshan Giant Buddha in China, the tallest stone Buddha sculpture in the world.
• Tian Tan Buddha, located in Hong Kong, world's tallest seated Buddha statue.
• List of statues by height, many of which are Buddhist statues

External links

• Ushiku Daibutsu Official Page

Records
Preceded by Dai Kannon of Kita no Miyako park 88 m (289 ft)	World's tallest statue 1995 – 2002	Succeeded by Spring Temple Buddha 128 m (420 ft)