Phra Bang
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The Phra Bang (Lao: ພະບາງ, "Royal Buddha Image in the Dispelling Fear mudra") is a statue of Buddha in the city of Luang Prabang, Laos; it is the namesake of that city. The statue stands at 83-centimetre (33 in)s, with palms facing forward, cast using thong, an alloy of bronze, gold, and silver. According to local lore, it was cast in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) sometime between the 1st and 9th century. However, the features of the image suggest a much later Khmer origin.[citation needed]
Background
The Phra Bang arrived in
The Phra Bang has long been seen by devout Buddhists as a symbol of the right to rule Laos, as only a commendable and virtuous government deserves to be caretaker of such a sacred image. In 1705, it was taken to Vientiane. In 1778, the Siamese (now Thai) invaded Vientiane and captured the Phra Bang, taking it with them to Bangkok.[2] There, political upheaval and misfortune were attributed to the statue, and in 1782, it was returned to the Lao people. Again in 1828, the Siamese captured the Phra Bang but once more returned it in 1867, after a similar period of political upheaval.[citation needed]
In 2013, the Phra Bang was moved from the
See also
- Cetiya
- Emerald Buddha
- Mahamuni Buddha
- Phra Sukhothai Traimit
References
- ISBN 978-0-8248-0368-1.
- ISBN 978-1864489972. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- ^ Boobbyer, Claire (12 October 2016). "Luang Prabang, Laos, in three days: holiday itinerary". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 April 2019.