China donates 3 stupa replicas to Myanmar

BEIJING - The Buddhist Association of China (BAC) held a religious ceremony in western Beijing's Lingguang Temple on Saturday morning to send three Sakyamuni tooth-relic stupa replicas to Myanmar.

Master Chuanyin, president of the BAC, presided over the ceremony. He said the event reflects the strengthened friendship between the Buddhist circles and the peoples of both countries.

The stupa replicas will be sent to Ruili City in southwest China's Yunnan Province, which borders Myanmar, after the ceremony. Religious officials from Myanmar are expected to lead a delegation to receive the stupa replicas on June 7.

The three stupa replicas will be displayed in the cities of Rangoon, Naypyitaw and Mandalay, respectively, according to the BAC.

Currently housed in a golden pagoda in Lingguang Temple, the Sakyamuni tooth sarira has been taken to Myanmar for display and worship in 1955, 1994, 1996 and 2011.

To enhance ties between the two countries' Buddhist circles and peoples, the BAC decided to replicate the original Sakyamuni tooth-relic stupa and send it to Myanmar.

The BAC will also donate tractors, agricultural machinery as well as a primary school to Myanmar.

Sarira are remains from the cremation of a Buddha or the body of a saintly monk. Often shaped like beads, they are regarded as the most treasured Buddhist relics.

After Sakyamuni (565-486 BC), the founder of Buddhism, was cremated some 2,500 years ago, a few pieces of his sarira relics were brought to China by monks who were preaching Buddhism.