When this statue of Shakyamuni Buddha is completed, it will be the tallest “seated meditation statue carved into a cliff” in the world.
Recently, visitors to An Giang have often mentioned a giant Buddha statue being constructed on Sam Mountain, an area known for its pristine beauty, standing about 284 meters above sea level. This project honors the Buddha and has significant international stature, forming part of the master plan for the Sam Mountain Cultural Park.
The Shakyamuni Buddha statue is being constructed on the cliff of Sam Mountain, located in Vĩnh Tây hamlet (Núi Sam Ward, Châu Đốc City, An Giang Province). (Photo: Trịnh Cường)
According to Thanh Niên newspaper, the seated Shakyamuni Buddha statue is 81 meters tall, situated on a land area of 5,500 m2, with a total construction cost of approximately 255 billion VND. Currently, the upper part of the statue has been completed, while the legs and lotus throne are still being sculpted. The overall funding for this construction comes from the resources of the Miếu Bà Chúa Xứ Sam Mountain and contributions from sponsors, organizations, and individuals both domestically and internationally.
Information from Vietnam.vn states that the Shakyamuni Buddha statue began construction in 2015. Once completed, this statue will become the highest “seated meditation statue carved into a cliff” in the world. It is known that the Leshan Giant Buddha in China stands at 71 meters and is also a seated meditation statue, currently the highest carved into a cliff. However, if the statue in Vietnam is completed, it will break the record of the Leshan Giant Buddha.
If the statue in Vietnam is completed, it will break the record of the Leshan Giant Buddha. (Photo: NDT)
Mr. Nguyễn Phúc Hoan, Head of the Sam Mountain Temple Management Board, shared with the magazine Một thế giới, “The statue is part of the 10-hectare Sam Mountain Cultural Park project, with a budget of nearly 1,200 billion VND funded primarily by the management board (mainly from donations to the Miếu Bà Chúa Xứ Sam Mountain) and social contributions. Three other Buddha statues are included in the park, which has a Buddhist theme: the Birth of Buddha statue (21 meters tall), the Snow Mountain Buddha (35 meters, carved into the mountain), and the Reclining Buddha (49 meters long).”
The seated Shakyamuni Buddha statue is 81 meters tall, located on a plot of 5,500 m2. (Photo: Một thế giới)
The project for the seated Shakyamuni Buddha on Sam Mountain is expected to be completed by 2025. Currently, the upper part of the statue is finished, while the legs and lotus throne continue to be sculpted. The statue is still under construction. Upon completion, it will serve as a unique and meaningful spiritual symbol for the Vietnamese people and visitors from around the world.
Currently, the upper part of the statue has been completed, while the legs and lotus throne continue to be sculpted. (Photo: Trịnh Cường)
Sam Mountain is one of 37 mountains in An Giang recognized as a national tourist area, with a complex of historical and cultural relics, classified at the national level, including the Miếu Bà Chúa Xứ Sam Mountain, Tây An Pagoda, Thoại Ngọc Hầu Tomb, and Hang Pagoda, established in 2018. Each year, the festival honoring the Goddess of the Sam Mountain attracts millions of visitors. Currently, the Sam Mountain Goddess festival is in the process of being documented for submission to UNESCO for recognition as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Summary of information on the seated Shakyamuni Buddha statue at Sam Mountain. (Chart created with AI tools).
