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A surprising discovery at the ancient Bukit Choras temple complex has proven the long history of Buddhism in Malaysia. Archaeologists have found a Buddha statue, identified as dating from the 8th or 9th century.
The life-sized Buddha statue, made of stucco (a mixture of lime, water, and sand), was found on the north wall of this ancient temple. Remarkably, the statue is almost complete, with a head, facial features, and robes. In addition, the research team found an inscription in Sanskrit on the statue and fragments of terracotta pottery.
This image shows a 1,200-year-old Buddha statue shortly after it was unearthed.
This suggests that the Bukit Choras area was once an important religious site, even older than well-known religious sites like Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Borobudur in Indonesia. The discovery also indicates that Buddhism was present in Malaysia from a very early period, at least as early as the 8th or 9th century.
The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Datuk Roslan Abdul Rahman, stated that this discovery is of great value in terms of tourism and archaeology, promising to attract many tourists to Kedah. He emphasized: “This discovery is older than both Angkor Wat and Borobudur. This is very exciting for us.” Mr. Roslan said that an exhibition will be held immediately after the research on the artifacts is completed. However, the government has not yet decided whether these artifacts will be displayed in a museum or whether the Bukit Choras site will be developed into a new archaeological tourist destination, similar to famous sites in Cambodia and Indonesia.
For protection and further study, the relics were moved from Bukit Choras to the laboratory of the Malaysian National Heritage Department for conservation work. By the third phase of the excavation, three inscriptions containing Buddhist mantras had been found at the site.
The statue has now been moved to the Malaysian National Heritage Department for conservation work.
The discovery of a 1,200-year-old Buddha statue in Malaysia is a memorable event, not only showcasing Malaysia's rich history but also opening up opportunities for future Buddhist studies. It is a clear testament to the diversity and richness of humanity's cultural heritage.
