Vietnam White Marble Reclining Buddha for a Reflecting Pool, 5 Feet Long

A reclining Buddha made for the water

This reclining Buddha is made for one setting above all: the long edge of a still pool. The figure lies on his right side along a low plinth about five feet long, so the whole length of the body, from the curled hair to the soles of the feet, falls on the water as one unbroken reflection. Where a seated Buddha would look small beside a long, low pool, this one follows its line. Vietnam white marble suits the idea: a crisp, cool milky white with only faint grey clouding, it stays bright against dark water and stone paving.

How the reclining Buddha is carved and finished

The piece is carved to order by the master sculptors we work with. The figure and plinth are first roughed out from the block, then the face, the hand beneath the head, the curls of the hair and the long folds of the robe are finished by hand with chisels and abrasives. The surface is taken to a soft satin polish, so light rolls gently over the shoulder and hip without the glare a mirror polish would throw back off the water. The plinth is banded with carved lotus petals, and the round bolster under the arm carries a lotus medallion.

The meaning of the reclining Buddha

The reclining form is one of the oldest in Buddhist art. Lying on his right side with the head resting on the right hand and the left arm along the body, the Buddha is usually understood to be at the moment of his parinirvana, his final passing beyond the cycle of rebirth. It is the posture of the great reclining figures of Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar, Wat Pho in Bangkok among them. The closed eyes and the faint smile carry the calm that the form is meant to convey.

Size and placement of this reclining Buddha

The statue measures about 60 inches long, 24 inches high including the plinth, and about 18 inches deep. Give it a pool edge, ledge or platform of at least six feet so the plinth sits fully supported with a little space at each end, and make sure the base is level and built to carry solid stone, because a figure of this length is very heavy and is set in place with lifting equipment. By long tradition the head of a reclining Buddha points to the north. It suits an indoor reflecting pool, a courtyard water feature, a meditation hall or a resort lobby.

A reclining Buddha sized to your pool

The length can be matched to your pool: we can quote it shorter or longer, or in Makrana white marble for a softer, warmer white. Send us a photo of the space and the length of the pool edge on WhatsApp, and we will come back with a size and a quote.