Japan. Delving into Bamiyan’s lost Buddhas and murals at Mitsui Memorial Museum
Left: Seated Bodhisattva Maitreya with crossed legsGandhara, 2nd-3rd centuryHirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum Right: Important Cultural PropertySeated Bodhisattva Maitreya with one leg pendentHakuhō period, dated 666 (Tenji 5)Yachū-ji, Osaka The two colossal Buddhas carved into a hillside in Bamiyan and…
Thailand. Cracks in 300-year-old Buddha statue in Samut Sakhon reveal core
A centuries-old Buddha statue in Samut Sakhon has cracked, revealing an ancient laterite core. The Fine Arts Department confirmed it is the work of ancient craftsmen, showing distinct differences between the outer and inner statues. The Buddha statue, over 300…
“Archaeological treasure” is ripe at the Mahabodhi Temple Complex. India
The Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India. It is one of the Buddha’s holy sites and is the location where he is said to have received enlightenment. (Image credit: Eye Ubiquitous/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) A buried…
Tibet. Traditional Shoton Festival celebrated in Lhasa
People carry an enormous rolled-up thangka painting of Buddha towards a platform on the hillside for sunning in Lhasa, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 4, 2024. Celebrations marking the traditional Shoton Festival, or Yogurt Festival, began in Lhasa, capital…
The world’s largest painting is bigger than a football pitch: what is it and where is it located?
If you think that Guernica of Picasso or The Fourth Stateor by Pellizza da Volpedo are large paintings, you have not yet seen the Great Buddha of the Century (世紀大佛)made by Taiwanese painter and calligraphy expert Hung Chi Sung. The…
Vietnam. Exploring 200-year-old artifacts in Long An’s iconic pagoda
Long An’s renowned ancient pagoda is home to treasures dating back more than 200 years, presented by Lord Nguyen to honor the sanctuary where he once sought shelter. Nestled amidst the lush greenery, Thien Mu Pagoda (Tan Trach Commune, Can…
He found beautiful pottery at home — it turned out to be a pricey antique
A ginger jar initially dismissed as “just another piece of blue-and-white pottery” turned out to be a 300-year-old Chinese treasure. The 9-inch ceramic pot, which is missing its lid, was discovered among other pieces displayed in a farmhouse in Oxfordshire,…
Thai Buddha relics gifted to Kek Lok Si Temple, Malaysia
GEORGE TOWN: Legends abound around Buddha relics, from beliefs that they are indestructible and guarded by powerful deities to them imparting miraculous powers. Precious to Buddhists, they look like tiny, pearly beads called sarira in Sanskrit and are regarded as…
Vietnam’s national treasure: Unique Triad of Buddha statues at Con Son Pagoda
The Triad of Buddha Statues at Con Son Pagoda has been recognized as a unique National Treasure, a one-of-a-kind historical artifact that captures the essence of 17th-century Buddhist sculpture in Vietnam. The statues, dating back to the Le Trung Hung…