Reclining Buddha
A reclining Buddha is an image that represents Buddha lying down and is a major iconographic theme in Buddhist art. It represents the historical Buddha during his last illness, about to enter the parinirvana.[1] He is lying on his right side, his head resting on a cushion or relying on his right elbow, supporting his head with his hand.
This pattern seems to have emerged at the same time as other representations of the Buddha in the Greco-Buddhist art of Gandhara.
In Thai art
[edit]For Thai Buddha attitudes (Thai: ปางพระพุทธรูป; parang Phra phut ta roupe), the reclining Buddha (Thai: ปางไสยาสน์; paang sai yat) can refer to three different episodes, whilst the attribute of each remains unclear.
- Nirvana attitude (Thai: ปางปรินิพพาน; paang pari nipphan)
- Teaching the Rahu Asurin attitude (Thai: ปางโปรดอสุรินทราหู; paang proad asurin tra rahu)
- Sleeping attitude (Thai: ปางทรงพระสุบิน; paang song phra subin)
Notable examples
[edit]- Winsein Tawya Buddha (Mawlamyaing) - 182.9 metres (600 ft)[3]
- Thanboddhay Pagoda (Monywa) - 101 metres (331 ft)[3]
- Myathalyaung Buddha (Bago) - 82 metres (269 ft)[3]
- Lawka Tharahpu Buddha (Dawei) - 73.6 metres (241 ft)[3]
- Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple (Yangon) - 66 metres (217 ft)[3]
- Shwethalyaung Buddha (Bago) - 54.8 metres (180 ft)[3]
- Manuha Temple (Bagan)
- Phowintaung, near Monywa
- West side of the Baphuon in Angkor
- Monolithic Buddha of the Phnom Kulen (lying on his left side)
- Golden gilded Buddha on Sambok Mountain in Kratié Province (on his right side)
- Bhamala Stupa contains a statue carbon dated to be 1,800 years old, making it the oldest reclining Buddha in the world.[4]
- Cave #26 of Ajanta
- Kongōbu-ji at Mount Kōya.
- Nanzo-in, in Fukuoka Prefecture - 41 metres (135 ft)
- Wat Chayamangkalaram in Pulau Tikus, Penang
- Sam Poh Tong Temple in Ipoh, Perak
- Wat Phothivihan in Tumpat, Kelantan
- Dambulla
- Gal Vihara in Polonnaruwa (12th century)
- Buddha in Nirvana of Ajina-Tepa (13 meters long), on display in the National Museum in Dushanbe
- Wat Dhammachaksemaram in Nakhon Ratchasima - 13 metres (43 ft) the reclining Buddha of the 7th century in Dvaravati style coming from Muang Sema
- Wat Khun Inthapramun in Ang Thong - 50 metres (160 ft) an ancient temple that was constructed during the Sukhothai period
- Wat Lokkayasutha in Ayutthaya- 29 metres (95 ft) the biggest reclining Buddha in Ayuttaya
- Wat Pa Mok Worawihan in Ang Thong - 23 metres (75 ft) The reclining Buddha image was constructed during the Sukhothai period
- Wat Pho of Bangkok - 46 metres (151 ft)
- Wat Phra Kaeo in Kamphaeng Phet (15th century)
- Wat Phra Si Iriyabot in Kamphaeng Phet The 15th century temple with Buddha statues in four postures-walking, sitting, standing and reclining in the Sukhothai artistic style
- Wat Wichian Bamrung in Phetchabun - 50 metres (160 ft)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "The Discourse on The Great Parinirvana" (PDF). www.themindingcentre.org. p. 140. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
- ^ "Guide to the Wild East of Cambodia – what to do and where to go in the Green Triangle".
- ^ a b c d e f Ma Thanegi (February 2014). "Chaukhtutgyi Reclining Buddha Image" (PDF). My Magical Myanmar. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- ^ "Footprints: No sleep lost over broken Buddha".
External links
[edit]Media related to Statues of the Buddha reclining at Wikimedia Commons