Image
Bunthan Chan sits beside this Buddha, which dates from the 16th or 17th century. It was bought by the Wellington Cambodian community at an auction in 1983 – an anonymous couple lent the community $6,000 to make the purchase. The serene Buddha is considered an important symbol of unity for a people whose country has been ravaged by wars.
Using this item
Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PA-Group-00685)
Reference: EP/1983/1389/5
by Ross Giblin
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.