Chuck Kuhn's Asia in Photos: Works Starts On Biggest Jade Buddha Statue In Vietnam's Hai Duong Province

HAI DUONG, Jan 18 (Bernama) -- The Than Chau Ngoc Viet Gemstones and Jewellery Company on Monday will begin the sculpting of a jade statue of the Great Buddha Sakyamuni in Vietnam's northern province of Hai Duong, the Vietnam news agency reported.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet and the patriarch of the Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha, the Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue, removed the seal from the block of jade used for the statue.

President Triet said the sculpture of the Buddha serves not only religion but also humankind in general, adding that it will be an extremely valuable piece of art with a high cultural value that will last for generations.

The Than Chau Ngoc Viet Company bought the 35 tonne block of jade at a rare gemstones fair in Myanmar.

It plans to sculpt a 16-tonne statue, which at 3m high and 2m wide with a nine-tonne foundation will become the biggest jade statue of Buddha in the world when completed in 2011. A group of experienced foreign artisans have been hired for the work.

The world's current biggest Buddha statue is 2.5m high and weighs 3.9 tonnes.

They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.

Chuck Kuhn's Asia in Photos

Monday, January 18, 2010

Works Starts On Biggest Jade Buddha Statue In Vietnam's Hai Duong Province

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