Gandhara, the epicentre of Buddhism
Gandhara, located in present-day Pakistan, holds profound historical and spiritual significance for Buddhism. Once a thriving hub of Buddhist thought, art and culture, Gandhara played a vital role in the dissemination of all three major schools of Buddhism—Theravada, Mahayana and…
‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest ‘had no idea’ his golden Buddha statue was worth a massive fortune
The expert revealed that the item dated as far as back as the 1650s. Most of the items that turn up on “Antiques Roadshow” are often family heirlooms, paintings, and vintage timepieces. But sometimes, items related to ancient civilizations are…
Vaishali’s Smriti Stupa to Open this Month with Monks from 15 Countries. India
Vaishali: The Buddha Samyak Darshan Museum-cum-Smriti Stupa, built in Vaishali, Bihar, is set to be inaugurated in the last week of July. The ceremony will see participation from Buddhist monks representing 15 countries, including China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal,…
Sacred Metalwork and Forgotten Histories: A Dvaravati Treasure Trove. Thailand
Archaeologists in northeastern Thailand have uncovered a spectacular cache of 1,300-year-old gold, silver, and bronze artifacts beneath Wat Dhammachak Semaram, a temple famous for its reclining Buddha statue. The discovery occurred during routine drainage work, revealing a ceramic container filled…
Ancient Buddha Statues Unearthed During Temple Renovation in Champasack, Laos
On 14 July, workers and local villagers unearthed a total of 70 ancient Buddha statues during restoration work at Muang Kang temple in Champasack district, Champasack Province, on 14 July. The discovery came while the residents were digging the ground…
Buddha’s childhood home in Nepal misses out on World Heritage Sites list
Nepal’s effort to secure UNESCO World Heritage status for Tilaurakot—the ancient capital of the Shakya kingdom and Prince Siddhartha Gautam’s pre-enlightenment home—was rejected during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris. Despite decades of archaeological research, international…
Vietnam’s Da Nang Museum opens an exhibition of rare ancient artifacts
Many rare ancient antiques are on display in an exhibition in Da Nang, the most livable city in Vietnam, until September. Visitors are captivated by the displays of rare antiques at the Da Nang – Dau Xua Vang Vọng (Da…
Buddha-era relics discovered in Yogidanda, preservation stressed. Nepal
Buddha-era relics have been discovered at Yogidanda, in Ward No.12 of Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City, Rupandehi. Ward Chairman of Butwal-12, Dilli Prasad Sharma Acharya said that the unearthed relics are of the Buddha period. He reported the discovery of an old…
Rare Korean Buddhist Masterpieces Exhibited in Seoul after Return from Japan
Priceless Buddhist artworks, recently repatriated from Japan, were unveiled for public display at the National Palace Museum of Korea in Seoul on Tuesday. The works comprise a rare set of 10 silk paintings, The Ten Underworld Kings from Korea’s early…