Story Behind the Image | Incense in Buddha’s Hand

 
From the forests and mist of the upcountry to the Korat plateau and the central plains, all the way to the islands and rubber plantations of the south, Thailand is steeped in Buddhist history, tradition and culture.

One of the things that most impresses newcomers to this part of the world – and to Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand in particular – is how Buddhism so intertwined in the daily life of its population. Here, in a Petchaburi temple just south of Bangkok, a Buddha statue rests in contemplation. Its red texture slowly dissolves as the seasons pass to create a beautiful hue of reds and whites.

Incense sticks are lit and set in the lap or in the hands of the image by both monks and practitioners as they mediate and make merit on another day on the wheel of karmic life cycles.

Discover arts and culture, ancient and modern, with a trip to Asia with ICS Travel Group.

Art & Culture