Colossal Statue of Guan Yu in Jingzhou

Jul 14, 2016 3 comments

An enormous statue of the ancient Chinese warrior Guan Yu was recently unveiled at a park in Jingzhou city in Hubei province. The statue depicts the 3rd century BC general carrying an intimidating axe-like weapon called the "Green Dragon Crescent Blade". It stands 48 meters tall, atop a 10-meter-high pedestal and is reported to weigh over 1,320 tons.

General Guan Yu lived during a restless period in Chinese history known as the Three Kingdoms, and was later immortalized in one of China's most famous historical novel. He was eventually turned into a god and is worshipped as thus, especially in southern China. Guan's true life stories have now largely be given way to fictionalized ones. Praised and respected for his loyalty and righteousness, small shrines and statues to Guan are almost ubiquitous in traditional Chinese shops and restaurants. Aside from the latest statue in Jingzhou, there is another large statue of him in Guan's hometown in the Shanxi province. That one measures 61 meters tall, including a 19-meters-tall pedestal.

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Photo credit: CCTV News China

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Photo credit: CCTV News China

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Photo credit: CCTV News China

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Photo credit: CCTV News China

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This image released by the Chinese media appears to have been photoshopped over a crimson sky for a dramatic effect. See the white selection patch on the right-bottom corner. Photo credit: CCTV News China

Sources: shanghaiist.com / Wikipedia via Twisted Sifter

Comments

  1. One wonders about how many members of the Public Property Party have developed a sense of humor concerning their prospects for regime change in 中國.

    Says Wikipedia:

    "Guan Yu (died 220 CE), courtesy name Yunchang, was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han dynasty. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han – founded by Liu Bei – in the Three Kingdoms period..."

    ReplyDelete
  2. That thing is huge...I like it

    ReplyDelete

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