The Hoe Nhai temple in Hanoi, Vietnam currently possesses a unique statue from the 17th century: that of a Buddha sitting in lotus position on the back of the then-king Le Huy Tong.

When Le Huy Tong inherited the throne in 1675, he openly despised Buddhism and its followers, claiming it was a religion that advocated for and supported social parasites: monks, nuns and laypeople. As a result, he forbade the practice of Buddhism, dismantled the sangha and those who defied his order were handed the death penalty.

Luckily, a monk named Tong Dien who lived as a hermit in the wild heard of this tragedy and decided to intervene. He pretended to send a gift of jewelry to the King. However, inside the packet was a manifesto that described the wisdom that Buddhism can offer to the country: compassion, harmony and an escape from suffering. So powerful were his words that they didn't just convince the King of the need to decriminalize Buddhism but also made him regret his brutal treatment of Buddhists. He then commissioned this wooden statue as a self-portrait that showed his humility and remorses.

After more than 300 years, the statue has survived wars and the destruction of Southeast Asian weather and is proudly displayed at the Hoe Nhai temple in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Detail : http://vninfogate.com/gate/?module=newsdetail&newscode=5362

Comments

Search

WEb design oleh Benny Pangadian www.mypotret.com 0813 3136 3456."