Buddhist folklore
In Buddhist folklore, there is a guardian for each of the four cardinal points (north, east, south and west). After the Buddha achieved enlightenment, each guardian presented him with an alms bowl. The Buddha could not favour one guardian over the other and so he formed the four bowls into one bowl. The cross shape that forms the base of the bowls made at Ban Batt represent the four cardinal points and their guardians.
©Kieron Nelson 2015 "Vanishing Cultures Photography" All rights reserved
