Nepal seeks UNESCO World Heritage status for Tilaurakot, Buddha’s early home.
In 1988, at the invitation of King Birendra, prime minister of Sri Lanka Ranasinghe Premadasa visited Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha. After paying homage in Lumbini, Premadasa wished to visit Tilaurakot, an ancient Shakya capital city where Siddhartha Gautam spent…
Malaysia, Buddha statue found in Kedah’s Bukit Choras older than Angkor Wat
GEORGE TOWN, June 26 — The discovery of a Buddha statue, dating back to the eighth or ninth century, in the Bukit Choras archaeological heritage site in Yan, Kedah shows the significance of the area as an important religious site…
Cambodia. The 100-year-old Buddhist Vihara in Wat Damnak, a national heritage site, is undergoing restoration
The restoration of the 100-year-old Buddhist Vihara in Wat Damnak is a significant endeavor to preserve this national heritage site. The historical and cultural importance of this vihara is evident from its age and the purpose for which it was…
Buddha’s tooth relic stupa celebrates 60th anniversary in Beijing
The Buddhist Association of China held an event at the Lingguang Temple in Beijing to solemnly commemorate the 60th anniversary of the completion of the Buddha’s tooth relic stupa on Thursday. More than 100 people including representatives of the communities…
‘Doctor of Buddhist relics’ calls for more young staff in Yungang, China
In the western suburb of Datong, North China’s Shanxi Province, nestled against the southern slope of Mount Wuzhuo, stand the majestic figures of the Yungang Grottoes, a testament to the enduring beauty of 1,000 years. These colossal Buddhas, towering and…
What Are the Iconographic Elements of Japanese Esoteric Buddhism?
We explore an overview of common deities, visual elements, and representations in Esoteric Buddhist art of the Heian Period. Buddhism has an ancient, long-ranging history which expands across several different schools of thought. Many have heard of the pillars of…
Temple tour group discovers ancient sandstone in Surat Thani, Thailand
An ancient sandstone is seen here after it was found in a temple compound of Wat Palilaik in Surat Thani’s Chaiya district. (Photo: Supapong Chaolan) SURAT THANI: An ancient sandstone has been found in the grounds of a temple in…
The Many Lifetimes of the Bodhisattva in the Jatakas
The birth of Siddhartha Gautama was celebrated across the world in May. The exact date of the Buddha’s birthday is celebrated on different days due to varying lunisolar calendars across Asian cultures—for example, this year it is 15 May in…
Bokeo dig unearths largest Buddha statue to date. LAOS
Nine other Buddha images were dug up on Wednesday. One was 30 centimetres tall and 25 centimetres wide, another was 27 centimetres tall and 18 centimetres wide, and a third measured 36×30 centimetres. The rest were measured at 15x10cm, 36x24cm,…