Seokguram Grotto, Symbolic of a spiritual journey into Nirvana.
Gyeongju, South Korea A monumental statue of the Buddha sits on the slopes of Mount Toham, looking out to sea. It is the heart of Seokguram Grotto, a Buddhist temple built in the 8th century. Kim Dae-Seong, a Prime Minister of the Silla…
Bingling Temple, Tianshui, A hidden Buddhist gem accessible only by boat.
Looking for a remote destination in central China? Look no further than the grottoes at Bingling Temple in the country’s north-central Gansu Province. Massive crowds are a common feature of many attractions throughout China: This is a good spot to escape…
Tibetan Buddhist shrine with more than 200 artefacts donated to the Minneapolis Institute of Art
The shrine comes from Alice S. Kandell, who amassed one of the most significant private collections of Tibetan Buddhist art in North America For decades, a mesmerising shrine of Tibetan Buddhist artefacts has been tucked away in a private home…
Is Buddhism a “Teaching of Images”?
Buddha Shakyamuni, 9th century, Sri Lanka,Gift of Joan Palevsky and the Museum Acquisition Fund (M.76.46)South and Southeast Asian Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) When most of us think of Buddhism, we likely won’t immediately think of it…
The Wood Buddha Statue Museum, Ji Xin Monastery, Qinhuangdao, China
The Wood Buddha Statue Museum is located at Ji Xin Monastery in Zushan Scenic Area of Qinghuang dao City. With a history dating back to the Song dynasty (960-1279), the temple nestles half way up the mountain, overlooking the city…
A Tale of the Buddha’s Tooth
Sri Lanka’s Festival of the Tooth is possibly the oldest Buddhist festival in Asia. Indeed, elements of the festival, called Esala Perahera, probably pre-date Buddhism’s arrival in Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BCE. Esala Perahera roughly translates into “procession…
Todaiji temple’s Great Buddha gets cleaned before holiday
NARA–UNESCO World Heritage Todaiji temple was filled with the heavenly sight of flying white-robed priests vigorously dusting the towering Great Buddha statue ahead of the Obon holidays. Around 170 priests and staff participated on Aug. 7 in an annual cleaning…
Unlocking the Mysteries of the Hand of Buddha: A Symbol of Wisdom and Enlightenment
The Hand of Buddha, also known as Vitarka Mudra or the Teaching Mudra, is a sacred and mystical symbol deeply rooted in Buddhism. This symbolic gesture, made by the Buddha during his teachings, holds profound significance in the Buddhist tradition….
What Were the Bamiyan Buddhas?
The Bamiyan Buddhas were two colossal Buddhist statues carved into rock faces in the Bamiyan Valley of central Afghanistan during the 6th century. The exceptionally large, totemic statues were an important, partially intact relic of Buddhist cave architecture that had…