Great Buddha of Thailand

The Great Buddha of Thailand, also known as The Big Buddha, The Big Buddha of Thailand, Phra Buddha Maha Nawamin, and Mahaminh Sakayamunee Visejchaicharn (Thai: พระพุทธมหานวมินทรศากยมุนีศรีวิเศษชัยชาญ; RTGS: Phra Phuttha Maha Nawaminthara Sakkayamuni Si Wiset Chai Chan), was in November 2018 the tallest statue in Thailand, the second-tallest statue in Southeast Asia, and the ninth-tallest in the world.[1]

Great Buddha of Thailand

พระพุทธมหานวมินทรศากยมุนีศรีวิเศษชัยชาญ (Phra Phuttha Mahanawamintra Sakayamunee Sri Visejchaicharn)
Coordinates	14°35′35.60″N 100°22′40.02″E
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)

Located in the Wat Muang temple in Ang Thong Province,[2] this statue stands 92 m (300 ft) high, and is 63 m (210 ft) wide. Construction commenced in 1990, and was completed in 2008. It is painted gold and made of concrete.[3] The Buddha is in the seated posture called Maravijaya Attitude.

The statue was built following the order of Phra Kru Vibul Arjarakhun, the first abbot of Wat Muang temple, in order to commemorate the King Bhumibol of Thailand. The statue was built using the donated money from faithful buddhists considering as the act of making merit. The budget spent on the statue was roughly 104,200,000 baht. The statue can now be observed from the far distance, marking the fame of both Ang Thong province and Thailand.

The formal name, Phra Phuttha Mahanawamintra Sakayamunee Sri Visejchaicharn (Thai: พระพุทธมหานวมินทรศากยมุนีศรีวิเศษชัยชาญ), was given by Phra Khru Vibul Arjarakun, meaning

• Phra Phuttha (พระพุทธ-) = The Buddha
• Mahanawamintra (มหานวมินทร-) = The Great King Bhumibol
• Sakayamunee (ศากยมุนี) = Sakayamunee Buddha (Guatama)
• Sri (ศรี) = being sacred by-
• Visejchaichan (วิเศษชัยชาญ) = Wiset Chai Chan, the name of the tambol (district) where the statue is located.

Together, the name can be translated to The Great Guatama Buddha of Wiset Chai Chan, built to commemorate the great King Bhumibol.

The statue sometimes called by the locals "Luangpho To" (หลวงพ่อโต) or "Luangpho Yai" (หลวงพ่อใหญ่). Which in fact, the term Luangpho To (หลวงพ่อโต) does not refer to any specific Buddha statue. The name means Big Buddha, so it has been used to call any colossal Buddha statue. The same thing goes to the term Luangpho Yai (หลวงพ่อใหญ่), which means exactly the same.