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Favorite Buddha Statues from Across Asia

Favorite Buddha Statues from Across Asia

July 23, 2015 By Nancie 47 Comments

Welcome to week 238 (07/23/2015) of Travel Photo Thursday. When I think of Asia I almost always  think of Buddha statues, and the many that I have gazed at over the years. I don’t think I’ve ever been in an Asian country where I haven’t admired (and sometimes fallen in love with) one. This Travel Photo Thursday I am sharing with you some of my favorite Buddha statues from across Asia. 

[box type=”info”] On our 238th week of Travel Photo Thursday I am thrilled to welcome Jan Robinson as a co-host for our photo weekly link-up. Jan blogs at Budget Travel Talk. Jan and her husband, Marty, have just returned from a 10 week European adventure. Please give Jan a warm welcome! [/box]

Leave your comment and a link at the end of this post. Guaranteed, magic will happen! 🙂

 

The sitting Buddha at Korea’s Mt. Seoraksan’s Shinhungsa Temple is huge. I think the second shots puts the statue’s height into perfect perspective.

 

Sitting Buddha, Shinhungsa Temple, Mt. Seorakson, Korea

 

This is one BIG Buddha!

 

Sitting Buddha, Shinhungsa Temple, Mt. Seorakson    

Buddha statue production is alive and well in Thailand. I wonder where this graceful Buddha found a home. I took this shot when I visited Bangkok’s amulet market. The market is frequented by mostly by locals, and I highly recommend anyone that visits Bangkok to spend some time here.  My post featuring the amulet market.       

Buddha Statue Production

 

I found this beautiful statue at Chiang Mai’s Wat Pa Pao, a Shan style temple just steps from the ancient moat.  I published a photo essay on the temple here. 

 

Buddha Statue at Wat Pa Pao      

The Bamboo Buddha at Wat Chong Kam in Mae Hong Son is to thought to be the only the world’s only Buddha statue made from bamboo. Getting to admire this Buddha is a bit of a adventure. If you take the bus from Chiang Mai, you’ll probably lose count of the curves in the road; 1864 of them! You’ll find a photo essay of the Bamboo Buddha here.     

 

Bamboo Buddha - Wat Chong Kham

 

I would say that the prize for the most Buddha statues in South East Asia has to go to Myanmar. The country is full of them, and they are all meticulously maintained. Both of these Buddhas can be found in the town of Bago, an easy 50 mile trip from Yangon. The first is definitely one of my favorite shots. The second  and third shots give you an idea of the sheer size of some of the reclining Buddhas.

 

Reclining Buddha, Bago, Myanmar

 

Reclining Buddha's Head, Bago, Myanmar    

Reclining Buddha, Bago, Myanmar

 

Do you have a favorite Buddha statue somewhere in the world? Let us know in the comments.

 

You can browse the Travel Photo Thursday archives here.

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Nancie

Food, culture, museums, architecture, the people, and unplanned surprises are what I love most about travel. Forty countries and counting.
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Filed Under: Destinations, Featured, Korea, Myanmar, Thailand, Travel Photo Thursday Tagged With: "#TPThursday", "Travel Photo Thursday", Buddha statues in Asia, Buddha Statues in Korea, Buddha Statues in Myanmar, Buddha Statues in Thailand

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Comments

  1. Life Images by Jill says

    July 23, 2015 at 3:01 pm

    The Buddha statues certainly are an integral part of Asia. Happy travels

    Reply
    • Nancie says

      July 23, 2015 at 6:36 pm

      Hi Jill. You are so right, and I love how each Asian country has there own take on what the Buddha looks like.

      Reply
  2. budget jan says

    July 23, 2015 at 5:25 pm

    Hi Nancie, So happy to be on board as a new Co-Host 🙂 I didn’t know you had been to Myanmar – or if I did I had forgotten. I must go and read some posts. 1864 curves is an enormous amount – a definite adventure. You are lucky to be so close to so many Buddhas. Are they common in Korea too?

    Reply
    • Nancie says

      July 23, 2015 at 6:35 pm

      Hi Jan. Excited to have you as a co-host Jan. I think I was in Myanmar just before I started this blog. Yes, going to Mae Hong Son by bus is an adventure, and next time I will fly!! Lots of Buddhas here. The first two shots are of a Buddha here in Korea, which I wasn’t really clear about. I’ll have to change that!

      Reply
  3. Muza-chan says

    July 23, 2015 at 7:48 pm

    I love big Buddha statues, in Japan I visited them whenever I had the chance. So far my favorite is the Ushiku Daibutsu. I like a lot the composition in your second photo.

    Reply
    • Nancie says

      July 24, 2015 at 6:57 am

      Hi Lily. I’m with you. I never get tired of admiring and photographing Buddha statues.

      Reply
  4. Jill says

    July 23, 2015 at 10:01 pm

    I love these! I saw my first big Buddha statue this year – at Kamakura, Japan – and it was fabulous!

    Reply
    • Nancie says

      July 24, 2015 at 6:58 am

      Hi Jill. They are a sight to see. I always love the detail.

      Reply
  5. Tonya {The Traveling Praters} says

    July 23, 2015 at 10:56 pm

    I love all the different perspectives in these photos.

    Welcome Jan! And thank you,Nancie for encouraging me to stop back and link up again. I always intend to and then it slips my mind. Maybe I’ll become a regular around here again. I do enjoy viewing everyone’s photos and catching a glimpse of where everyone is traveling.

    Reply
    • Nancie says

      July 24, 2015 at 6:59 am

      Welcome back, Tonya! It will be great to see more of your photos, too. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Claire Wang says

    July 24, 2015 at 1:15 am

    And I thought I’d seen a lot of buddhas. You know, Chinese people actually think that it’s lucky to have large ear lobes because of Buddha’s huge ears? My mom once told me that it was bad that my ears were so small!

    Reply
    • Nancie says

      July 24, 2015 at 7:01 am

      Hi Claire. I’ve read that about the ears. Every culture has different superstitions and beliefs. I hope you didn’t to anything drastic to your ear lobes! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Lydia C. Lee says

    July 24, 2015 at 6:17 am

    I like the giant buddhas – we’ve been to a few. The one in Hong Kong is worth a visit…

    Reply
    • Nancie says

      July 24, 2015 at 7:02 am

      Hi Lydia. I saw the Buddha in Hong Kong on my first visit. I think that was back in 2003. I loved it!

      Reply
  8. Ruth - Tanama Tales says

    July 24, 2015 at 8:46 am

    Yes, Thailand id full of Buddha statues. I photographed tons of them when I visited. I liked the ones in the Doi Suthep Temple in Chiang Mai. There were several reclining ones that were very unique. I think my favorite ones were in the countryside.

    Reply
    • Nancie says

      July 29, 2015 at 5:16 pm

      Hi Ruth. Yes, the ones at Doi Suthep are lovely too. I always find that it is so crowded there, hard to get a decent photo.

      Reply
  9. Kathy Marris says

    July 24, 2015 at 5:39 pm

    Having travelled to several Asian countries, I never get tired of seeing Buddha statues. Have you seen the giant Buddha in Phuket? It sits atop a hill and dominates the skyline in Phuket.

    Reply
    • Nancie says

      July 29, 2015 at 5:18 pm

      Hi Kathy. I have done a lot of traveling in Thailand, but not yet made it to Phuket. One of these days I will, and I can’t wait to see that Buddha.

      Reply
  10. eileen g says

    July 24, 2015 at 11:20 pm

    The big buddhas are always interesting. But for me those loooooong rows of buddha after buddha are really enthralling. the variety is interesting also.

    Reply
    • Nancie says

      July 29, 2015 at 5:24 pm

      Hi Eileen. I love the rows of Buddhas as well. I know I have a few photos hanging in my files.

      Reply
  11. Mary says

    July 24, 2015 at 3:59 pm

    What a great collection of photos! I’ve always admired the size and symbolism of these Asian Buddhas. I clearly need to travel more around Asia to see these especially the Myanmar ones. My favorite Buddha is the only Asian one I’ve seen with is in Kamakura, Japan.

    Reply
    • Nancie says

      July 29, 2015 at 5:17 pm

      Hi Mary. Myanmar has some fabulous Buddha statues. I found it hard to believe that one country could have so many! 🙂

      Reply
  12. Anthony & Claire says

    July 25, 2015 at 3:22 am

    We’ve just got back from Hong Kong and visited Lantau Island to see their Big Buddha, Tian Tan – definitely worth a visit if you’re ever that way!

    Anthony & Claire

    Reply
    • Nancie says

      July 29, 2015 at 5:25 pm

      Hi Anthony/Claire. I have been to the big Buddha on Lantau and it is amazing!

      Reply
  13. Jackie says

    July 25, 2015 at 9:26 pm

    Buddhas!! I couldn’t get enough of them in Thailand! I want to go back for a longer time.

    Reply
    • Nancie says

      July 29, 2015 at 5:29 pm

      Hi Jackie. They are definitely addictive!!

      Reply
  14. Michele {Malaysian Meanders} says

    July 26, 2015 at 2:26 pm

    That closeup of the reclining Buddha in Bago is great. It’s a unique perspective. My favorite Buddha is the reclining one in the Thai temple in Penang. I loved that it was so close to me and I could just drop in for a few minutes whenever I wanted to.

    Reply
    • Nancie says

      July 29, 2015 at 5:33 pm

      Hi Michele. I think I remember that one in Penang. It is a beauty.

      Reply
    • Nancie says

      July 29, 2015 at 5:41 pm

      Hi Michele. I think I remember that one in Penang, and it was lovely!

      Reply
  15. Corinne says

    July 26, 2015 at 5:32 pm

    Nancie, What is it about a Buddha statue? They are soooo photogenic! Welcome to Jan; I love reading her blog as well!

    Thanks for linking up with #wkendtravelinspiration!

    Reply
    • Nancie says

      July 29, 2015 at 5:42 pm

      Hi Corinne. You’re right. I can never walk by one without a few clicks of the camera 🙂

      Reply
  16. Paula McInerney says

    July 27, 2015 at 5:41 pm

    Buddha’s are everywhere in Asia, and I do remember trekking somewhere to see a part of Buddha, but I can’t recall where. Don’t buy any Buddha statues or T-shirts or anything. Despite the fact that these are sold by the Thai people, the government takes a very dim view on this and you could come across problems in customs.

    Reply
    • Nancie says

      July 29, 2015 at 5:44 pm

      Hi Paula. I have brought back small Buddha statues without an issue. However, Buddha t-shirts I would not even attempt. Besides the fact that do not want to wear Buddha on my body! The last time I drove into BKK there was a big billboard warning people against Buddha tattoos.

      Reply
  17. Lyn (aka) The Travelling Lindfields says

    July 27, 2015 at 5:58 pm

    You have made me want to go on a Buddha statute crawl throughout Asia and see how many I can find. My favourite is definitely the little one in our garden though.

    Reply
    • Nancie says

      July 29, 2015 at 5:45 pm

      Hi Lyn! A Buddha crawl in Asia would be fun.

      Reply
  18. Debi Lander says

    July 28, 2015 at 5:03 am

    Enjoy your photos, especially the one of the toes!

    Reply
    • Nancie says

      July 29, 2015 at 5:45 pm

      Hi Debi. Thanks. The toes are cute, aren’t they? 🙂

      Reply
  19. Marilyn Jones says

    July 28, 2015 at 5:42 am

    I have only traveled to Thailand and Malaysia. My favorite Buddha is the Golden Buddha in Bangkok.

    Reply
    • Nancie says

      July 29, 2015 at 5:46 pm

      Hi Marilyn! The Golden Buddha in Bangkok is lovely~!

      Reply
  20. A Cook Not Mad (Nat) says

    July 28, 2015 at 10:11 pm

    I have quite a collection of Buddha statues but have still not been to Asia. Your photos are great, my favourite is the Bamboo Buddha at Wat Chong Kam, stunning!

    Reply
    • Nancie says

      July 29, 2015 at 5:47 pm

      I loved the Bamboo Buddha, too. He is just so unique, and the attention to detail is amazing.

      Reply
  21. Ursula Maxwell-Lewis says

    July 29, 2015 at 5:54 am

    Buddha: The face of Asia…or should I say the faces of Asia. Always intriguing, as you’ll aptly pointed out. Must admit, I’ve always been fascinated with them, too

    Reply
    • Nancie says

      July 29, 2015 at 5:49 pm

      Hi Ursula. I don’t think I have ever seen one that I didn’t like, and I can never walk by without stopping.

      Reply
  22. Betsy Wuebker says

    July 30, 2015 at 4:37 pm

    I don’t have a favorite Buddha statue in Asia — yet! I really liked looking at your photos, though! I would really like to see the reclining Buddha in Myanmar!

    Reply
  23. Susan Moore says

    July 31, 2015 at 12:25 pm

    Before I left on my first trip alone to SE Asia I would visit the Glenbow Museum in Calgary every Sunday (it used to be free on Sundays) and I would study all the statues from Asia in their exhibit, I would imagine seeing similar statues in their original location. When I went to Thailand i saw the reclining Buddha statue in Bangkok at Wat Pho. I would love to revisit SE Asia – so much more to see! Thank you for bringing back these memories for me 🙂

    Reply

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