World’s largest jade statue of Buddha on display in Vietnam

Phat Tich Pagoda in the northern province of Bac Ninh will be home to the world’s largest jade Buddha statue from May 16 to 22 in celebration of Buddha’s 2553rd birth anniversary and the 2553rd year of the Buddhist calendar.

“The jade Buddha statue for Universal Peace” was carved from an 18-tonne jade boulder – nicknamed the “Polar Pride”, which was discovered in Canada in 2000. The 4.8m-tall statue weighs 5,000kg, and is considered the world’s largest and most solemn Buddhist jade statue. It was competed after eight years by more than 30 sculptors and Buddhist researchers from Thailand, Nepal, Myanmar and India.

After arriving in Vietnam, the jade statue has been on display in Danang, Vung Tau and Dong Thap allowing Buddhist nuns, monks and followers to contemplate and pray for a peaceful world.