Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ARTS AND TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE
The vast majority of works of art created in Laos - sculpture, painting, architecture,
even decorative motifs on jewellery - are inspired by Buddhism, with the important
exception of Lao textiles. The motivation behind much Theravada Buddhist art relies
heavily on the concept of making merit. Wealthy patrons looking to acquire religious
merit and dilute an accumulation of sins can do so by commissioning the crafting of an
imageoftheBuddhaorbyfinancingthebuildingorrestorationofanyofthestructures
found in monastery grounds.
Owing to Laos's distance from lucrative trade routes and its tumultuous history, the patronage
of the religious arts never reached the heights that were attained in neighbouring Cambodia,
Thailand and Burma. Nevertheless, a style did develop that is distinctively Lao and, although
the number of works which exhibit a high degree of refinement is rather small, Lao art makes
up for it with a vigour and whimsy that rarely fails to charm.
Sculpture
The historic Buddha was a prince who gave up his wealth and birthright in order to pursue the
“middle path” - a philosophy of moderation - towards enlightenment. Just before his death,
the Buddha was said to have discouraged his followers from making images of him, saying
that it was his teachings that should be worshipped, not a likeness of him. For a time after the
Buddha's passing, Buddhists used
symbolicimagery
to recall the enlightened one. An empty
throne or a royal parasol was sometimes depicted commemorating the Buddha's decision to
abandon his life of luxury and seek the path to enlightenment.
However, human nature being what it is, adherents needed something more concrete. The
first images of the Buddha
were probably made several centuries after the Buddha's death.
By that time, no living artist had actually seen the Buddha, but a list of physical traits said to
be unique to the Buddha had been passed down. The result of this list of fairly rigid attributes
is that Buddha images from all over Asia share much the same characteristics. Lao images are
no different and many of their seemingly bizarre features, toes of equal length for instance,
are due to the strictness with which the aesthetic canon has been followed. In much the same
vein, the attitude of the Buddha's arms and hands, or
mudra
, are rich with
symbolism
and
must be depicted accurately if they are to be understood. Most of these gestures correspond to
Buddhist theory or to events that occurred during the Buddha's lifetime. Besides the standard
gestures and poses, the Lao have invented a couple of their own. One is a standing Buddha
with arms to its sides and fingers pointing downwards, known as the “Beckoning Rain” pose.
Buddhas with this
mudra
are found only in Laos and parts of northern Thailand. A simil-
ar standing Buddha with arms crossed at the wrists is also a Lao-invented
mudra
, known as
“Contemplating the Tree of Enlightenment”. The most sacred Buddha image in the country,
