Showing posts with label statue. Show all posts
Showing posts with label statue. Show all posts

Colossal Statue of Guan Yu in Jingzhou

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

Texas Town Erects a Selfie Statue

The town of Sugar Land, Texas, has got the Internet talking after it erected a strange new piece of public art —a bronze statue featuring two smiling girls, one of them holding a smartphone at arm’s length taking a selfie. The statue stands right outside the city hall building. Of course, people are already taking selfies with the statue.

The selfie statue is said to be part of a 10-piece collection that is being donated by a resident to the City through the Sugar Land Legacy Foundation, and is being installed all over the city. Sugar Land Town Square’s public plaza got two statues — the selfie statue, and another one depicting a guitar player sitting on the ledge of a fountain facing City Walk. According to the press release, “both show activities common in the plaza.” The cost of installing both statues is estimated to be about $32,500.

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