Introduction Iconography of Gautama Buddha in Laos and Thailand

the reclining buddha

for buddhists, correct depiction of buddha not anabolistic matter; buddhists believe rendered buddha image hypostasis: actual spiritual emanation of buddha, possesses supernatural qualities. although buddha not god, buddhists seek communicate supernatural world through buddha images, making offerings them , praying before them.

buddhists venerating buddha image (wat doi suthep, chiang mai, thailand)

buddha images not intended naturalistic representations of gautama buddha looked like. there no contemporary images of him, , oldest buddha images date 500 600 years after lifetime. buddhists believe buddha images represent ideal reality of buddha, , every buddha image stands @ end of succession of images reaching buddha himself.

when creating buddha image, artist expected in spiritual , mental state (samādhi) enable him visualise ideal reality. there no requirement every buddha image identical, , in fact there wide variety of artistic styles , national traditions in representing buddha. there are, however, rules of representation must adhered to.