Taiwan is home to some of the most impressive Buddhist sculptures in Asia. These statues are both spiritual icons and engineering marvels. They draw pilgrims, tourists, and art lovers alike. Each statue stands tall not only in height, but in meaning and purpose. In this article, we explore the ten largest Buddha statues in Taiwan. We describe their size, location, construction, and spiritual significance. We also explain how they fit into the diverse buddha statues types you can find across the country.
How We Chose and Ranked the Statues
To select the top ten, we considered the total height including pedestal, the year of completion, and cultural importance. We included both seated and standing Buddhas. We focused on public statues that visitors can approach and reflect upon. Our list is practical—if you want to visit, you can follow this guide from south to north.
The 10 Largest Buddha Statues in Taiwan
1. Fo Guang Big Buddha – 108 m (354 ft)
Location: Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, Kaohsiung
The Fo Guang Big Buddha is the tallest Buddha statue in Taiwan—and among the tallest seated copper-cast Buddhas in Asia. It was completed in 2011 and reaches 108 m when measured from base to head. The statue itself is 50 m tall and rests on a 58 m pedestal. Crafted from 1,800 tons of copper and steel, this Sakyamuni Buddha holds a lotus mudra in the right hand and a varada (wish-fulfilling) mudra in the left. Its gaze and commanding presence serve as a reminder to practice “three good”—good thoughts, good words, good deeds. The head alone spans three stories, and each eye is the size of an average building floor
The statue forms the culmination point of a grand landscape architecture. Visitors walk through an entrance hall, pass eight pagodas symbolizing the Noble Eightfold Path, and ascend through the Main Hall before reaching the Big Buddha on the upper terrace. The statue holds relics of the Buddha and sits above 48 sealed palaces below ground, each a time capsule meant to open every 100 years. This giant Buddha not only impresses the eyes, it inspires contemplation.
2. Great Standing Maitreya Buddha – 72 m (236 ft)
Location: Beipu, Hsinchu County
The Great Standing Maitreya Buddha was unveiled in 2011. This statue is about 72 m tall and sits on a lotus pedestal atop a hill near Emei Township. Depicting the future Buddha with a globe in one hand and a joyful expression, it embodies hope, compassion, and the promise of future enlightenment. Made from reinforced concrete, the statue shines in white as it welcomes visitors; from a distance, it looks like a guardian watching over the valley.
Inside the statue, its hollow interior may hold an elevator or staircase—though access details vary. The surrounding complex also includes a temple area, prayer halls, and viewing platforms. Pilgrims come to pray for the future, while tourists capture panoramic views of the Hsinchu countryside. This statue represents a different types of buddha statues—a standing, smiling Buddha that offers lighthearted comfort.
3. Baguashan Great Buddha – 24 m (78 ft)
Location: Changhua City
Built in 1962, the Baguashan Great Buddha overlooks Changhua City from Bagua Mountain. It stands approximately 24 m tall and is hollow with six interior floors accessible by stairs. Each floor houses dioramas that depict key events from the historical Buddha’s life—birth, enlightenment, teaching, and passing into nirvana. At the top, visitors can look out through eye-shaped windows and see sprawling views of the city below.
The statue is made of concrete reinforced with steel and weighs over 300 tons. It was constructed as a memorial after World War II, linked to a former military observation post on the mountain. Today, it stands as a peaceful symbol and cultural landmark. Alongside it is the Dragon Mountain Temple—a grand complex with sweeping roofs, temple halls, and lush gardens. People climb Baguashan by foot or cable car and enjoy the site’s blend of nature, spirituality, and history.
4. Standing Amitabha Buddha – 36 m (118 ft)
Location: Fo Guang Shan original monastery, Kaohsiung
Before the museum was built, Fo Guang Shan Monastery already featured this golden standing Amitabha Buddha, consecrated in 1975. The statue reaches 36 m tall and stands beside the Great Hero Hall, overlooking the monastery grounds and Gaoping River. The statue is surrounded by 480 smaller Buddhas and sits above the Thousand Buddha Land—a hall of repentance with Dunhuang-style artwork. The right hand is raised to radiate light; the left is lowered to receive beings, symbolizing compassion and mercy.
This Amitabha statue is a majestic sight at dawn and dusk, its golden surface glowing. Pilgrims circumambulate the statue, pray, and enter the adjacent shrine. The architectural and spiritual layout reflects Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s vision of a Buddha-land on earth.
5. Golden Shrine Buddha – 19 m (62 ft)
Location: Golden Buddha Shrine, Fo Guang Shan Museum
Within the Golden Buddha Shrine, there is a 19 m tall seated gilded Amitabha Buddha. This statue was a gift from Thailand’s Supreme Patriarch in 2004. It is made in serene meditation posture on a multi‑tiered lotus base. The golden surface and intricate robes create a calming aura. Surrounding the Buddha are Thai-style architecture mixed with Taiwanese elements. Devotees come here to chant the Amitabha mantra, and admire the craftsmanship and sanctity of this international offering.
This Buddha statue highlights cultural exchange—showing how Buddhist traditions flow across Asia. It is smaller than the giants, but its peaceful presence here is deeply moving.
6. Reclining Jade Buddha – ~18 m (59 ft)
Location: Jade Buddha Shrine, Fo Guang Shan Museum
This Buddha lies in the posture of entering Parinirvana, carved entirely from white Burmese jade. Measuring around 15–20 m long, the statue captures the moment when Buddha passes away into ultimate liberation. The serene expression and gentle curves of the figure remind visitors of impermanence and compassion. Surrounding the statue are carvings of mournful disciples, celestial beings, and lotus blossoms. Light filters through windows to illuminate the pale jade surface—creating an atmosphere of comfort and reflection.
The Reclining Buddha is a masterpiece of craftsmanship, reflecting both Buddhist ideals and luxury materials. It is a place for people to meditate on the nature of life, death, and awakening.
7. Bodhi Wisdom Reliefs – 22 panels
Location: Bodhi Wisdom Concourse, Fo Guang Shan Museum
Along a 254 m walkway, 22 bas‑relief panels depict key episodes of the Buddha’s life and sutra verses in Venerable Hsing Yun’s calligraphy. These reliefs guide visitors in chronological meditation—from birth to enlightenment. Adjacent to the pathway, eighteen lifelike Arhat statues represent ideal disciples who attained awakening. The path ends at the pagoda‑lined main walkway leading to the Big Buddha.
This is not a giant statue, but the collective artistry is powerful. Walking the concourse becomes a spiritual pilgrimage that educates, calms, and prepares heart and mind before meeting the Buddha statue.
8. Underground Buddha Palaces – 48 time capsules
Location: Beneath the Main Hall, Fo Guang Shan Museum
Beneath the main building lie 48 sealed underground chambers. Each palace contains Buddhist statues, relics, cultural artifacts, and items donated from around the world. They are built to remain sealed for 100 years after consecration. In December 2011, these palaces were sealed in a global ceremony. The relics include scriptures, relics, artworks, and messages from modern society—intended to tell future generations who we were.
These palaces represent a unique intersection of faith, memory, and legacy. They connect Buddhist tradition to contemporary culture, reminding us that wisdom is passed down through time.
9. Main Shrine Triad – 7.8 m each
Location: Main Shrine Hall, Fo Guang Shan Monastery
Inside the Main Shrine is a stunning set of three seated Buddha statues, each about 7.8 m tall. They depict the historical Buddha with two attendant bodhisattvas, symbolizing compassion and wisdom. The statues sit beneath a dome-shaped canopy supported by pillars decorated with intricate Buddhist iconography.
This triad is used for daily ceremonies and chanting. When sunlight streams in, the golden surfaces glow, creating a warm, contemplative atmosphere. It’s a spiritual centerpiece that balances grandeur and intimacy in one space.
10. Bodhisattva Figures & Pagodas
Location: Fo Guang Shan grounds and Museum terraces
Across the complex, there are structured displays of bodhisattvas—Guanyin, Ksitigarbha, Manjusri, Samantabhadra—often housed under pagodas or in separate halls. Some figures are life-sized, others grand. One such pagoda has statues of Avalokitesvara with a thousand arms and eyes, invoking compassion.
These bodhisattva shrines are essential parts of the complex. They invite reflection, aspiration, and prayer. Though not as tall as the Big Buddha, their presence enriches the landscape and spiritual fabric of the monastery and museum.
Understanding the Spiritual Meaning
Large Buddha statues are more than tall objects. They are symbols of enlightenment, compassion, and moral guidance. Their postures—seated, standing, reclining—carry different meanings:
- Seated Buddha: meditation, inner peace, teaching
- Standing Buddha: welcoming devotees, offering protection
- Reclining Buddha: final liberation, impermanence, nirvana
Combined with mudras, lotus seats, and surroundings, they act as visual dharma gates. Each of the statues featured here embodies key aspects of Buddhist teaching—awakening, loving-kindness, mindfulness, and interconnectedness.
How to Visit Taiwan’s Buddha Statues
If you plan a pilgrimage or tour, start in Kaohsiung. Spend a full day at the Fo Guang Shan Museum and Monastery—you can explore the Big Buddha, giants, palaces, and shrines. Then move north. Visit the Maitreya Buddha near Hsinchu—combine it with the local Hakka cultural attractions around Beipu. Finally, head to Changhua to see the Baguashan Buddha. Consider taking a bike ride down Baguashan Mountain, passing temples and farms.
These journeys combine spiritual calm with Taiwan’s natural beauty. Whether by car, bus, or scooter, allow time to pause and reflect at each site.
Conclusion
Taiwan’s largest Buddha statues are sacred art, historical landmarks, and spiritual havens. They speak to the heart. They remind us of compassion, impermanence, and wisdom. They invite us to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with our own inner Buddha nature.
Visit them not just to see—but to touch your own calm, to observe our world with peaceful eyes, and to let their silent presence wash over you.
