Azibaza

Buddha and Asian antiques AZIBAZA, the premier gallery in Asia for the arts of the Himalayas and Southeast Asia.

Here you will find Buddha statues, ethnic or religious collectibles and rare antiquities - masterpieces to entice the neophyte, please the seasoned collector or decorate your home with a touch of Asian class.

04/08/2026

China’s ancient murals face summer heat threat – azibaza's blog

China’s centuries‑old murals and rock carvings are under siege from soaring summer temperatures, prompting conservationists to step up efforts to protect fragile heritage sites.

At Yongle Palace in Shanxi Province, built during the Yuan Dynasty, conservation specialist Bai Yongqin monitors minute changes in temperature and humidity that could damage the palace’s celebrated murals. For more than two decades, Bai has focused on preventive care, stressing that conservation means acting before problems become irreversible.

High heat and humidity pose a serious risk. Rising temperatures accelerate the ageing of pigment layers, making them brittle and prone to fading. Moisture can soften the mud‑based ground beneath the murals, while salts migrate and crystallise, creating cracks and flaking. Bai warns that repeated cycles of heat and cooling stretch and pull the layers, leading to gradual detachment.

The challenge is not confined to Shanxi. At the Dazu Rock Carvings in Chongqing, many statues are exposed outdoors. Research fellow Chen Huili explains that prolonged heat alters moisture inside the rock, expanding cracks, while heavy rainstorms erode surfaces and destabilise sections. Protective shelters and reinforced supports are now in place to shield the carvings from wind and rain.

Experts emphasise that conservation must be integrated, safeguarding both murals and the structures that house them. The principle is minimal intervention: stabilise damage, slow deterioration, and preserve historical information rather than over‑restoring.

The urgency is heightened by growing tourism. Yongle Palace has seen rising visitor numbers, boosted by cultural interest and popular media such as the game Black Myth: Wukong. Zhou Xueying of Nanjing University warns that without careful preservation, future generations may inherit faded relics instead of vibrant murals.

For those working at these sites, summer is a race against time. Behind every preserved colour and carving lies the quiet dedication of conservators determined to protect China’s heritage from the relentless pressures of climate and crowds.

03/08/2026

Hong Kong’s last deity woodcarvers keep faith alive – azibaza's blog

In a quiet industrial block in Kwai Chung, the Siu family are keeping alive one of Hong Kong’s most endangered crafts: the carving and restoration of wooden deity statues. Their workshop, Hop Keung Cheong Kee, is now the territory’s last dedicated site for this fading art.

Vitus Siu, 69, learned the trade as a boy in the 1970s at his father’s shop in Yau Ma Tei. Today, alongside his son Sylvester and other family members, he continues to carve Buddhas and immortals while focusing increasingly on restoration. “Clothes make the man, and gold makes the Buddha,” he says, as gold leaf is carefully applied to statues in reverence.

The family’s history stretches back to 1938, when Vitus’s father arrived from Guangdong and began carving “household Gods” for fishermen. Over the decades, fashions shifted: dragon and phoenix motifs for restaurants in the 1980s, then competition from cheaper mainland factories. One by one, rivals disappeared, leaving the Sius as the last guardians of the tradition.

Sylvester, 37, returned to the craft in 2014 after a family accident and found fulfilment in restoration. His proudest moment came with the six‑metre Amitabha Buddha at Po Lin Monastery. “I feel a deep sense of fulfilment when I successfully restore a historic statue,” he says.

Today, restoration accounts for up to 80 per cent of their work, with projects closely monitored by the Antiquities and Monuments Office. Their workshop is fully booked, testament to the demand for skilled hands that mainland factories cannot replicate.

While Sylvester focuses on temple commissions, Vitus has begun experimenting with creative wooden artworks, even publishing a book on the craft. Yet he insists retirement is not an option. “Those who carve Buddhas can never retire, or they’ll pass away quickly,” he says with a smile.

In a city where many traditions have faded, the Siu family’s persistence offers a rare glimpse of continuity. Their chisels and gold leaf keep Hong Kong’s spiritual heritage alive, one statue at a time.

02/08/2026

Mongolia’s Hunnu cemeteries gain UNESCO status
https://news.azibaza.com/mongolias-hunnu-cemeteries-gain-unesco-status/

31/07/2026

Ladakh protects Buddhist heritage sites – azibaza's blog

Authorities in Ladakh have declared several Buddhist monuments, including the celebrated Maitreya Buddha rock carvings, as protected heritage sites to shield them from damage caused by tourism and rapid development.

The move, announced under the Jammu and Kashmir Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, gives statutory protection to sites such as the Maitreya Buddha carving at Shey near Sindhu Ghat, the Zong Chamba rock carving, the Rigsum Gonbo carvings at Diggar, and the Chamba Karpo (White Maitreya Buddha) at Diggar. Other inclusions are the rock‑carved Buddha statue at Hunder and the Chamba carving at Tokpo.

Officials say the designation will allow for scientific conservation and stricter regulation of activities around the monuments, ensuring their structural integrity and historical authenticity. The administration has also pledged to establish India’s first Petroglyph Conservation Park on the banks of the Indus River in Leh, further strengthening preservation efforts.

Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena described the initiative as a commitment to safeguarding Ladakh’s cultural identity. “Preservation is not merely about protecting monuments but about safeguarding the collective memory of our people for future generations,” he said.

The Buddhist carvings, many dating back centuries, are regarded as invaluable testimonies to Ladakh’s spiritual and artistic heritage. By granting them protected status, the administration hopes to balance cultural tourism with conservation, ensuring that visitors can continue to experience these treasures without compromising their survival.

28/07/2026

Thailand. Wat Phra Mahathat wins UNESCO heritage honour.
https://news.azibaza.com/thailand-wat-phra-mahathat-wins-unesco-heritage-honour/

27/07/2026

Jingdezhen porcelain sites gain UNESCO status – azibaza's blog

China’s Jingdezhen Handicraft Porcelain Industry Sites have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, a landmark recognition of the country’s centuries‑old porcelain tradition. The announcement came on Saturday at the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, Republic of Korea.

The serial property covers five distinct but interconnected sites across Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, spanning nearly 2,000 hectares. Together they represent the full production chain of traditional porcelain making – from clay mining and kiln complexes to firewood supply and large‑scale manufacturing centres. Among them are the Hutian Ancient Kiln Site, the Gaoling Porcelain Clay Mining Site and the Imperial Kiln Institute, each reflecting a vital stage in the industry’s evolution.

Jingdezhen rose to prominence during the Song and Yuan dynasties, and by the Ming and Qing periods had become the world’s leading porcelain hub. Its blue‑and‑white and famille‑rose wares became symbols of Chinese artistry, influencing European “chinoiserie” and shaping global tastes from the 17th century onwards. The city’s techniques, organisation and artistic styles illustrate not only the ingenuity of Chinese craftsmanship but also the exchange of ideas across cultures.
Chine. Route de la porcelaine. M. Lu Jiande, maître de la porcelaine ultra-fine, dans son atelier de Jingdezhen. Son bol en “eggshell porcelain” est la seule œuvre de ce type vendue chez Christie’s.

UNESCO’s advisory body, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, highlighted Jingdezhen’s “Outstanding Universal Value” – its sustained production over centuries and its role as a centre of innovation and trade. The inscription acknowledges both tangible relics, such as kiln sites and mining zones, and the intangible systems of knowledge, organisation and social order that sustained the porcelain industry.

With this recognition, Jingdezhen joins the ranks of 1,248 properties worldwide considered part of humanity’s shared heritage. For China, it marks the first time a complete handicraft porcelain production system has been honoured, underscoring the enduring cultural and artistic legacy of the “Porcelain Capital”.

26/07/2026

Sarnath joins UNESCO World Heritage List
https://news.azibaza.com/sarnath-joins-unesco-world-heritage-list/

15/07/2026

Buddha statue scan reveals hidden relics. Korea – azibaza's blog

A 17th‑century Buddhist statue has undergone its first “health checkup” in Seoul, uncovering relics hidden inside its head for centuries.

Curators at the National Museum of Korea used the world’s largest cylindrical CT scanner to examine the Jijangam Wooden Seated Vairocana Buddha Statue, a 1.2‑metre‑tall treasure from the Joseon era. The scan revealed votive objects, likely paper or fabric, rolled and preserved within the statue’s head.

The discovery is significant because earlier relics found in the statue’s body had been removed when it was acquired. This latest inspection shows that another set remained intact, offering fresh insight into the rituals and craftsmanship of the period.

The CT scan also highlighted the statue’s construction techniques, including carving from a single log and attaching facial features separately. Tree‑ring analysis confirmed the wood was around 200 years old when used, underscoring the sophistication of Joseon artisans.

The German‑made scanner, costing 2.3 billion won, allows large artefacts to be examined without being rotated, reducing risk of damage. It can capture items up to 1.1 metres in diameter and three metres long, producing high‑resolution images. “Even fragile or newly excavated artefacts can now be safely scanned,” said Cheon Ju‑hyun, head of the museum’s Preservation Science Department.

Museum director You Hong‑june hailed the breakthrough as a turning point for conservation science. “Since 1976, when we began with nothing but a toothpick, our work has advanced to the world’s largest state‑of‑the‑art equipment,” he said.

The findings not only deepen understanding of Buddhist art but also demonstrate how cutting‑edge technology can safeguard cultural heritage. For scholars and the public alike, the hidden relics inside the Buddha’s head are a reminder that centuries‑old treasures still hold secrets waiting to be revealed.