Buddha statues are important symbols in Buddhism. They are usually made to show Siddhartha Gautama, who became known as the Buddha, or ‘Enlightened One’. These statues can be all different sizes, from small enough to fit in your hand to as big as a building. They often show Buddha sitting cross-legged with his eyes half closed, like he is meditating. Sometimes he is holding his hand up with two fingers touching, which is a special sign in Buddhism. Making these statues is hard work and artists take care to include every detail. The statues are usually made from stone, wood or metal, and sometimes they are covered in gold. For Buddhists, these statues are a reminder of Buddha’s teachings and they help create a peaceful feeling. Buddhists might pray or meditate in front of these statues as part of their practice.
In Myanmar, for certain well known Buddha icons, many locals come to visit and apply layers and layers of gold foil to the statues. This results in the battered and clumpy gold look on some of the Buddha statues.
Buddha statues are found in many temples across Asia.