Guanyin of the South Sea was built on the southeast shores of Putuoshan in bronze, limestone, marble and gold in 1998. It is a statue of Guanyin standing on a lotus throne. The statue of Guanyin is 20 meters high and together with the supporting base it reaches a height of 33 meters. The height of 33 meters could represent the 33 bodies of Guanyin or the 33 layers that the sky has in Buddhist doctrine. Since the completion of this imposing statue, it has been visited and worshipped by millions of pilgrims annually. The statue itself is a great piece of art, visable by boat far from the island. Today, the statue has become one of Putuoshans most symbolic sights. Guanyin of the South Sea protects the fishermen and aids them to the the harbor. She is holding a helm in her left hand, symbolising her alliance with the fishermen. The hand upraised with palm forward, signifies protection and the assuagement of fears.
Legend has it that Guanyin was born on February 19th of the lunar calendar, achieved enlightenment on June 19th and achieved nirvana on September 19th. On such dates, pilgrims from all over the country and foreign countries congregate at Putuoshan to pay homage to the Goddess. Her anniversary (the opening of the statue) is celebrated on the 26th of October. The supporting base consists out of two levels. The first level is the benefice hall and the second level is the hall of 500 Guanyin statues. Each statue in the hall represents a feature of Guanyin, so they are all different. The walls are crammed with intricate wall-to-ceiling murals made with bronze, dark wood, and even colored jade. The murals illustrate scenes from the story of Putuoshan"s origin and familiar pictures of present-day Putuoshan.Written on the walls are the names of those who gave money to build the statue. In front of the statue is a square with 2 altars. Here occur Buddhist ceremonies on special occasions. There is a beautiful archway that leads to the square.
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