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In 1990 construction began on the Tian Tan Buddha, also known as the Giant Buddha of Hong Kong, at Ngong Ping, a highland in the western part of Lantau Island, Hong Kong. It was completed on December 29, 1993, the day of enlightenment of Gautama Buddha, the founder of the Buddhist religion. The statue is 112-feet tall and was up until 2007 the world’s tallest outdoor bronze seated Buddha.
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The statue is situated on top of a hillside near the Po Lin Monastery and reached by climbing 240 steps. The Buddha statue sits on a lotus throne on top of a three-platform altar. The statue is named Tian Tan Buddha because this platform is a model of the Altar of Heaven or Earthly Mount of Tian Tan, the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. On the lowest level are six smaller bronze statues known as “The Offering of the Six Divas”. They are posed offering the Giant Buddha flowers, incense, lamp, ointment, fruit and music respectively. These offerings symbolize charity, morality, patience, zeal, meditation and wisdom, which are all necessary to enter into nirvana according to Buddhism theory.
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Due to it’s location on top of the three-tier platform and 240 steps up a quite steep hill, I do not have any decent shots of the Tian Tan Buddha itself. I have linked to the photo of the Tian Tan Buddha on Wikipedia for those who wish to see the statue. Even without capturing a worthwhile image of the Buddha, the climb was well worth the effort for The Offering of the Six Divas alone as can be seen from the three images above.
Twitter: ljsaltiel
| July 9, 2012
Very cool shots Mark. They look like impressive statues
Twitter: twitter (username)
| July 9, 2012
Very nice Mark. Looks like a cool place to visit and photograph.
Twitter: JimiJones
| July 9, 2012
Cool shot here, Mark. I really like that last shot with the gorgeous background in the valley. These statues are huge and you’ve captured them very well.
Twitter: jimnixaustin
| July 9, 2012
very cool Mark, nicely done here!