Among them are more than 100 Buddhist sculptural works collected by Duong Phu Hien and his associates dating from the 7th to the 13th century. The exhibition highlights a wide range of artistic styles, originating in various Asian countries and made from diverse materials such as bronze, gold, silver, wood, precious gems and Bat Trang ceramic.

“These masterpieces at the same time represent the immortality and everlasting vitality of Buddhism, one of the major religions of mankind, whose vision has exerted significant influence on the process of developing a world civilization,” said Most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu, vice chairman of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. “This is the first time we’ve seen such an exhibition, which helps us to understand the human morals of Buddhism as well as the architectural art of temples and pagodas,” he added.

*** Vietnam has published an English language version of the best selling book “Buddhist Temples” to welcome the UN Day of Vesak.

The book features 52 popular pagodas from around the nation, in words and pictures, conveying a Vietnamese Party and Government message of freedom of religion among all ethnic groups.

A Vietnamese-English bilingual version of “Buddhist Temples”, featuring 52 Buddhist pagodas, which was first published in 1993 has since been updated with the final English edition by Professor Keith Weller Taylor from the Carnell University of the United States.