Although there are many other alternative materials, ancient people often used jackfruit wood to create worship statues. Why is that?
Jackfruit wood is considered a precious wood in Vietnamese folk life and culture. Ancient people often used jackfruit wood to make statues, especially Buddha statues and statues of gods in temples and shrines. This choice is based on factors such as material properties, spiritual value and cultural importance.
Why did ancient people often use jackfruit wood to make worship statues?
Below are the reasons explaining why among the countless types of precious wood, ancient people often used jackfruit wood to make worship statues.
Durable yet easy to carve material
Jackfruit wood has many superior properties that make it an ideal choice for creating worship statues.
Jackfruit wood is durable, resistant to termites or warping. This helps statues made from jackfruit wood to last for a long time without being damaged, preserving their beauty and artistic value. Jackfruit wood can withstand the effects of harsh weather, suitable for different climatic conditions in Vietnam, especially the humid environment in pagodas or shrines.
The structure of jackfruit wood is not too hard, the wood grain is fine, making it easier for artisans to carve complex details. Thanks to that, jackfruit wood becomes the first choice for making worship statues with delicate, soft lines. Carving statues of Buddha or gods requires meticulousness and high precision, so jackfruit wood becomes the ideal material.
Jackfruit wood has a bright yellow color when first exploited, then turns dark brown over time. The natural color of jackfruit wood brings a feeling of warmth, closeness but no less solemn. In particular, the yellow color of jackfruit wood is also associated with the color of Buddhism, symbolizing purity and enlightenment. This makes jackfruit wood an ideal wood for making Buddha statues and worship items.
Concept of spirituality
In addition to its material advantages, jackfruit wood also has many spiritual values and profound religious meanings, making it popular in creating worship statues.
In many rural areas of Vietnam, jackfruit trees are often planted around houses, especially in pagodas and communal houses. Vietnamese people believe that jackfruit trees bring luck, fortune and peace to the family. Therefore, when using jackfruit wood to carve statues, people believe that the statue will absorb the good spirit of this tree, helping to bring peace and prosperity to the worshiper.
Jackfruit wood has a gentle, pleasant fragrance, not too strong, helping the worship space become more solemn and pure. In religious ceremonies, purity and solemnity are very important factors. Therefore, the use of jackfruit wood, a type of wood with a gentle fragrance, has contributed to creating a sacred atmosphere in religious ceremonies.
Popular and easy to find
Another reason why jackfruit wood is a popular choice is because it is quite easy to find in Vietnam. Jackfruit trees are easy to grow, grow quickly and are widely available in all regions. People often grow jackfruit in their gardens, not only for the fruit but also for the wood when needed. Therefore, jackfruit wood is readily available and cheaper than other precious woods such as rosewood and sua wood.
Thanks to its popularity and ease of availability, jackfruit wood has become a familiar material to Vietnamese people, not only in daily life but also in religious and belief activities.
Using jackfruit wood to make worship statues also shows the connection between humans and nature. Jackfruit trees are environmentally friendly, easy to grow, have few pests and diseases and do not require much care. Using jackfruit wood does not have a big impact on forest resources, helping to protect the ecological environment.
This reflects the philosophy of life of the ancients: living in harmony with nature and valuing sustainability in both beliefs and life.
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