The statue, called The Jade Buddha for Universal Peace, measures 3.5 meters (11.48 feet) tall, including the lotus base and fan throne, and weighs 4.65 tons.
The statue is modeled on the Siddhartha Gautama Buddha inside the Mahabodhi Stupa in Bodhgaya, India.
It is carved from an 18-ton Nephrite jade boulder called Polar Pride, first found in Canada in 2000 and considered the world’s largest piece of pure jade.
The statue’s initiator, Nepalese Lama Zopa Rinpoche, said it would illuminate the world and bring peace, happiness and solace and help prevent destruction, including war.
Rinpoche, who had reportedly dreamed of a shining jade boulder in Canada before the discovery, persuaded an Australian Buddhist named Ian Green to carve the Polar Pride into a Buddha.
The rock was transported in late 2006 from Vancouver, Canada to Bangkok, Thailand, where Thai sculptors finished the statue a full two years later.
The statue started the world tour in March 2009, after the Blessing Ceremony in Thailand. Vietnam was the first country to receive such an honor to welcome the Giant Jade Buddha for Universal Peace. The giant statue first visited Quán Thế Âm (Avalokitesvara) Temple on the occasion of the Goddess of Mercy Festival, March 13th-15th, 2009.
The statue will be traveling to other Temples in Vietnam before going to Australia.
According to VietNamNet/SGGP, the 18-ton jade boulder was worth US$1 million, and the statue was sculpted by 27 Thai and Australian artists at a cost of US$1.2 million.
For more information about the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace project and World Tour dates, please visit jadebuddha.org.au
Article source: http://www.lookatvietnam.com
More reading about the Giant Jade Buddha in Vietnam:
- Jade Buddha for Universal Peace arrives in Vietnam
- Giant sapphire Buddha statue welcomed
I’m in Viet nam this week(20April2009) and seen the statue.BUT I notice the following details:
1. The statue whose Budha face is in “painted yellow color” and the “rear” of the head also yellow(I suppose as it’s a whole jade will be somewhat of green as the photo in this web?
2. Why do they(the Owner)”making” a lot of profit of said “sponsor”from the paid-advertises? and paid no INCOME tax to the government of VN
Thanks
David
Hello David,
1. The photo of the whole jade that you saw was that of the statue before he was painted gold.
2. For this question, I don’t know. Every organization or government has different ways of doing things.