The largest statues on Earth! What is the world’s tallest statue of a woman? Where can you find the largest, gilded depictions of Buddhas?
#11 Grand Buddha at Ling Shan
Ranking in just outside of the top ten of the world’s largest statues is the Grand Buddha located in the Chinese city of Wuxi [woo-see]. Like many of the statues on this list, this monument is an ode to a great Buddhist figure. Resembling the celestial buddha known as Amitabha [ah-mih-tah-bah], the 700-ton bronze being measures 289 feet tall. It was erected on a 30 foot sculpture of a lotus flower at the top of a gorgeous, 217-step staircase, surrounded on all sides by scenic forested hills. The Grand Buddha was unveiled to the public in 1996 and has enjoyed visitation from tourists ever since. In 2008, a pair of palaces were built to the south-east, giving visitors to the region one more reason to experience this colossal Buddha in person.
#10 Awaji [ah-wah-jee] Kannon [kan-non]
Looming over the Japanese town of Higashiura [hih-gah-shee-oo-ruh]is the great white statue of popular Buddhist goddess Guanyin [gwan-yin]. It is called Awaji [ah-wah-jee] Kannon [kan-non] for its location on Awaji Island, an island typically noted for its dedication to preserving and promoting traditional puppet theatre performances. But the beautiful, pale statue brought a whole new attraction to the isle upon its completion in 1982. While many Buddhist statues are either funded by religious organizations, government agencies, or locally crowdsourced funds, the Awaji [ah-wah-jee] Kannon [kan-non] is the product of a single man’s vision. A businessman from Osaka made his fortune in real estate before deciding to have this statue built. Once it was finished, it featured a museum, several small businesses, and an observation floor all within its interior. However, due to it being private property, the esteem of the statue plummeted drastically when the owner and his wife passed away. Unmaintained for years, the statue has grown decrepit with entry being deemed too hazardous to allow. Instead, it sits empty, maintaining its spot as an Awaji [ah-wah-jee] Island landmark and being enjoyed exclusively from afar.
#9 Rodina-Mat’ Zovyot!
The only European entry to make this list is a symbol of feminine power in a statue called “Rodina-mat’ zovyot”, or “The Motherland Calls” as it translates in English. With a height of 279 feet this statue is the tallest in all of Europe, and is the highest standing of any statue of a human woman. The figure is a metaphorical representation of the Russian “Motherland” and her iconic pose is meant to symbolize a call to arms in the face of enemies. Most of the other statues in this video tend to have been built in the last few decades, but this monumental piece dates back to 1967 when it was unveiled after 18 years of work. Wire ropes and prestressed concrete hold the statue together, as the unique pose and weight distribution required a finessed touch to pull off. The sword wielded by the Rodina-Mat Zovyot was initially made of the steel with titanium plating, but in 1972, the blade was replaced entirely with one made of stainless steel. This was due to weight distribution issues, as well as an audible side effect in which sheets of metal would create a thunderous cacophony that echoed through the Volgograd valley.