New Members Kees Posted August 13, 2014 at 05:01 PM New Members Report Share Posted August 13, 2014 at 05:01 PM Dear all, First forgive my bad English, I am from the Netherlands. Today I bought something at a recycle shop. I think it is an old wooden travel altar, see attached pictures. Who can tell me something about it? Kind regards, Kees Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPhillips Posted August 16, 2014 at 01:27 AM Report Share Posted August 16, 2014 at 01:27 AM The eight characters carved on the exterior read: 佛光普照（Image #1），普度衆生（Image #4）。My knowledge of Buddhism is scant, but I'll attempt a translation: "The Buddha's light shines everywhere and brings salvation to all sentient beings." The characters in Image #3 appear to be upside down--no way to see them right-side up on my phone without standing on my head! In any event, since they're carved using seal script I doubt I could read them anyway. P.S. Your English seems perfect to me, of course Dutch & English are sister languages! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Members Kees Posted August 16, 2014 at 09:09 AM Author New Members Report Share Posted August 16, 2014 at 09:09 AM Dear MPhilips, Thanks very much for your translation. I searched the Internet for similar photo's and found out it is an old Buddha travel temple from Tibet. It is going to be a gift for my girlfriend who is from Surinam, her parents from India, and she is a Buddhist. As I said I bought it at a recycle shop. After that I went to a super market and when I was shopping my girlfriend called in tears. Her daughter, who had cancer, passed away the day before. I believe this is a special sign from her daughter and the temple is a gift to guide her mother because she can't anymore. I hope someone can decipher the seal script to complete the full message of this special sign. With Kind Regards, Kees Maas The Netherlands Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easternodyssey Posted August 16, 2014 at 10:24 AM Report Share Posted August 16, 2014 at 10:24 AM The carving looks like an artist rendition of one of the Chinese Buddhsit Grottoes, maybe Middle Binyang Cave, although I don't think it has that many statues. The eight figures in the background of the Buddha carving look like monks, but I think the other 4 especially the 2 at the Buddha's feet are Sakra's, or Brahma's which are kind of Buddhist deities. The two carving's on the right and left, I'm a little confused about, I'm assuming they are either king's or again Sakra's. The Buddha's hand is in the Abhaya Mudra possition which was used in the 4th-7th century Chinese art around the time many of these grottoes were being constructed. The box is called 三开佛盒and identical to this one http://jd.cang.com/342419.html strangely enough being sold for 110 Tibetan dollar's, so not to sure if I got that right as i thought Tibet used RMB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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