Great Buddha of Thailand facts for kids
| พระพุทธมหานวมินทรศากยมุนีศรีวิเศษชัยชาญ (Phra Phuttha Mahanawamintra Sakayamunee Sri Visejchaicharn) | |
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| Coordinates | 14°35′35.60″N 100°22′40.02″E / 14.5932222°N 100.3777833°E |
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| Location | Wat Muang, Wiset Chai Chan, Ang Thong, Thailand |
| Type | Buddha statue in Maravijaya attitude |
| Material | Concrete |
| Height | 92 metres (302 ft) |
| Completion date | 2008 |
| Dedicated to | Buddha (Guatama) |
The Great Buddha of Thailand is a giant statue located in Ang Thong Province, Thailand. It is also known by names like The Big Buddha or Phra Buddha Maha Nawamin. This impressive statue is one of the tallest in the world.
In November 2018, it was the tallest statue in Thailand. It was also the second tallest in Southeast Asia. Globally, it ranked as the ninth-tallest statue.
This huge statue stands at the Wat Muang temple. It is 92 meters (300 feet) tall and 63 meters (210 feet) wide. The statue is made of concrete and painted gold. It shows the Buddha in a sitting position called the Maravijaya Attitude. This pose represents the Buddha overcoming evil.
Contents
Building the Big Buddha
Work on the Great Buddha statue started in 1990. It took 18 years to complete, finishing in 2008. The idea for the statue came from Phra Kru Vibul Arjarakhun. He was the first abbot, or head monk, of Wat Muang temple.
The statue was built to honor King Bhumibol of Thailand. Many faithful Buddhists donated money to help build it. They believed this act would bring them good fortune. The total cost was about 104.2 million Thai baht.
History of Wat Muang Temple
The Wat Muang temple itself has a long history. Its original building was destroyed in the 1600s. This happened during a war with the Burmese army. They attacked and looted Ayutthaya, which was then the capital of Thailand.
Rebuilding Wat Muang took a very long time. It was not fully finished until 1982. Eight years later, construction began on the 'Big Buddha'.
What You Can See Nearby
Around the Great Buddha statue, there are other interesting sculptures. These show various gods and kings from Thailand's past. You can also see scenes from the Siamo-Burma War.
Close to the Buddha, there is a peaceful park. Beautiful lotus flowers grow in this park. It's a nice place for visitors to relax.
Names of the Great Buddha
The formal name of the statue is Phra Phuttha Mahanawamintra Sakayamunee Sri Visejchaicharn. This long name was given by Phra Khru Vibul Arjarakun. It means "the Lord Buddha of Wiset Chai Chan, Built in Honor of King Bhumibol."
Breaking Down the Formal Name
The formal name is a mix of words from Sanskrit.
- Phra Phuttha means "Lord Buddha."
- Mahanawamintra comes from King Bhumibol's royal title.
- Sakayamunee refers to the Buddha himself.
- Visejchaicharn is part of the name of the area, Wiset Chai Chan.
Common Nicknames
People often call the statue Luangpho Yai or Luangpho To. These terms are not just for this specific statue. They literally mean "Big Buddha." These names are used for any very large Buddha statue in Thailand.
See also
- Buddhism in Thailand
- Buddhist art
- Laykyun Sekkya
- List of tallest statues
- Other tallest statues in Thailand:
- Phra Phuttha Chok at Wat Khao Wong Phrachan, the 2nd-tallest (75 m.)
- Guan Yin at Wat Huay Pla Kang, the 3rd-tallest (69 m.)
- Luangpho Yai, the 4th-tallest (59.2 m.)
- Phuket Big Buddha, the 5th-tallest (45 m.)
