thumb|Buddha in [[parinirvana, Gandhara art, 2nd or 3rd century]]

thumb|Buddha entering [[nirvana, Bắc Ninh province, Vietnam, 17th century AD]]

A reclining Buddha is an image that represents Buddha lying down and is a major iconographic theme in Buddhist art. It represents the historical Buddha during his last illness, about to enter the parinirvana. He is lying on his right side, his head resting on a cushion or relying on his right elbow, supporting his head with his hand.

This pattern seems to have emerged at the same time as other representations of the Buddha in the Greco-Buddhist art of Gandhara.

In Thai art

thumb|Reclining Buddha of Galvihara at [[Polonnaruwa (Sri Lanka, 12th century)]]

For Thai Buddha attitudes (; ), the reclining Buddha (; ) can refer to three different episodes, whilst the attribute of each remains unclear.

  • Nirvana attitude (; )
  • Teaching the Rahu Asurin attitude (; )
  • Sleeping attitude (; )

Notable examples

thumb|The reclining Buddha of [[Dafo Temple, Zhangye|Zhangye]]

thumb|The reclining Buddha of the Hpo win caves

alt=reclining buddha kratie|thumb|Golden gilded reclining Buddha at Sambok Mountain in [[Kratié Province|Kratié, Cambodia]]

thumb|Butunehanzu (仏涅槃図) at Kongōbu-ji (Heian period)

thumb|The reclining Buddha of [[Wat Pho]]

thumb|Reclining Buddha statue in the Revival Lê period

267x267px|right|thumb|Reclining Buddha Statue in [[Mendut Temple complex, Indonesia.]]

Burma:

  • Win Sein Tawya Buddha (Mawlamyaing) -
  • Shwethalyaung Buddha (Bago) -

India:

  • Cave #26 of Ajanta

Indonesia:

  • Maha Vihara Mojopahit, Trowulan, East Java.

Japan

  • Kongōbu-ji at Mount Kōya.
  • Nanzo-in, in Fukuoka Prefecture -

Laos

  • Buddha Park in Vientiane

Malaysia:

  • Wat Chayamangkalaram in Pulau Tikus, Penang
  • Sam Poh Tong Temple in Ipoh, Perak
  • Wat Phothivihan in Tumpat, Kelantan

Sri Lanka:

  • Dambulla
  • Gal Vihara in Polonnaruwa (12th century)

Tajikistan:

  • Buddha in Nirvana of Ajina-Tepa (13 meters long), on display in the National Museum in Dushanbe

Thailand:

  • Wat Dhammachaksemaram in Nakhon Ratchasima - the reclining Buddha of the 7th century in Dvaravati style coming from Muang Sema
  • Wat Khun Inthapramun in Ang Thong - an ancient temple that was constructed during the Sukhothai period
  • Wat Lokkayasutha in Ayutthaya- the biggest reclining Buddha in Ayuttaya
  • Wat Pa Mok Worawihan in Ang Thong - The reclining Buddha image was constructed during the Sukhothai period
  • Wat Pho of Bangkok -
  • Wat Phra Kaeo in Kamphaeng Phet (15th century)
  • Wat Phra Si Iriyabot in Kamphaeng Phet The 15th century temple with Buddha statues in four postures-walking, sitting, standing and reclining in the Sukhothai artistic style
  • Wat Wichian Bamrung in Phetchabun -
  • Wat Thai Wattanaram in Mae Sot− 60 metres

United States

  • Chua Linh-Son Buddhist Temple in Santa Fe, Texas

Vietnam:

  • Hội Khánh Temple, Thủ Dầu Một, Bình Dương

See also

  • Reclining Vishnu
  • Bhishma on bed of arrows
  • list of tallest Buddha statues

References