Unification Buddha 통일대불

Unification Buddha 통일대불

Description

Title:
Unification Buddha 통일대불
Caption / Description:

A view of the back of the Great Unification Buddha (통일대불) in Seoraksan National Park (설악산국립공원), South Korea. The Buddha is the largest seated bronze Buddha statue in the world, at 14.6m high, excluding the halo, lightning rod and pedestal.

The statue's name, Tongil Daebul, means 'Unification Buddha', and it was built to symbolise the Korean people's hope for the reunification of North and South Korea. The statue cost 3.8 billion won ($4.1 million) to erect, which was raised over a decade, with the construction being completed in 1997.

The Great Unification Buddha sits on a lotus pedestal, which is flanked with 16 inscribed panels that tell of the entire path of Buddha's enlightenment through the words of the Bodhisattva, messengers of Buddha's teaching. Including the pedestal, the total statue height is 18.9m, and has a total weight of 108 tons.

Below the sitting Buddha statue is a temple dedicated to the bodhisattva thousand-armed and eyed Avalokiteśvara (1,000개의 손과 눈을 천수천안관세음보살). Avalokiteśvara means "Lord who looks down", and is a bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas.

Tags / Keywords:
  • Asia
  • 한국
  • Hanguk
  • 韓國
  • Korea
  • Gangwon-do
  • 강원도
  • 江原道
  • Sokcho-si
  • 속초시
  • 束草市
  • Seoraksan National Park
  • 설악산국립공원
  • 雪嶽山國立公園
  • Seorak-dong
  • 설악동
  • 雪嶽洞
  • Unification Buddha
  • 통일대불
  • 統一大不
  • Sitting Bronze Reunification Buddha
  • 통일청동대불좌상
  • 統一靑銅大不坐像
  • Sinheungsa
  • 신흥사
  • 新興寺

Admin

Date Original Photo Taken:
Original File Name:
Unification Buddha 통일대불 back.psd
Event:
Rating:
Date this image added/last updated on website:
Original File Dimensions:
2584px x 3866px
File Type:
JPEG
Color Mode:
RGB
Original Image Color Profile:
Nikon Adobe RGB 4.0.0.3000

Location

Location Shown:
Sublocation:
Seorak-dong 26-11
City:
Sokcho-si
Province/State:
Gangwon-do
Country:
Korea, Republic Of
World Region:
Asia
Location Created:
Sublocation:
Seorak-dong 26-11
City:
Sokcho-si
Province/State:
Gangwon-do
Country:
Korea, Republic Of
World Region:
Asia
Geo-location:
38.174274818697, 128.48696869171 View on map

Rights

Copyright Status:
Copyrighted
Licensing Status:
Rights Managed
Available for Editorial Use:
Yes
Available for Commercial Use:
No
Copyright Notice:
© 2009 Dave Kennard

Camera Data

Date Digital Resource was created:
Shutter speed:
18 s
Aperture:
f/8
Camera Model:
Nikon D200
ISO:
100
Exposure Compensation:
+1
Focal Length:
12mm
Focal Length (35mm equiv.):
18mm
Metering Mode:
Multi-segment
Flash:
No Flash
Exposure Mode:
Auto
White Balance:
Manual
Light Source:
Cloudy
Exposure Program:
Aperture-priority AE

Additional shooting metadata

Lens:
Tokina ATX107 DX FishEye 10-17mm F3.5-4.5
Filters used:
Additional Optics used:
Setup:
Handheld, bracketed ±1EV

Post Processing

Image Modified:
Software used:
  • Nikon Capture NX 2
  • Adobe Photoshop CS5
Post Processing:

NEFs converted in CNX2 with -0.3 exposure compensation
EV-1 image additionally converted with -1.3 exposure compensation
Images blended for exposure in PS CS5
PF desaturated in PS CS5
Topaz Adjust 4 with 'Photo Pop' preset selectively applied in PS CS5
Curves adjustment to increase contrast in PS CS5