Why Did Ancients Prefer Jackfruit Wood for Religious Statues Despite Many Alternatives?
Jackfruit wood is considered a precious material in the life and folk beliefs of Vietnam. The ancients often used jackfruit wood to create religious statues, especially Buddha statues and deities in temples and shrines. This choice is based on various factors including material properties, spiritual value, and cultural significance.
Carving statues from jackfruit wood. (Illustrative image).
Here are the reasons why, among many precious woods, the ancients preferred jackfruit wood for religious statues.
Durable Yet Easy to Carve
Jackfruit wood possesses many outstanding properties that make it an ideal choice for creating religious statues.
It is durable, resistant to termites, and does not warp. This ensures that statues made from jackfruit wood can last for a long time without damage, preserving their beauty and artistic value. Jackfruit wood can withstand harsh weather conditions, making it suitable for the diverse climates of Vietnam, especially the humid environments of temples and shrines.
The structure of jackfruit wood is not too hard, with a fine grain, allowing artisans to easily carve intricate details. Thus, jackfruit wood has become the top choice for crafting religious statues with delicate and smooth lines. The creation of Buddha statues or deities requires meticulousness and precision, which is why jackfruit wood is considered an ideal material.
Jackfruit wood has a bright yellow color when freshly cut, which gradually turns to a dark brown over time. The natural color of jackfruit wood provides a warm, close feeling, while also maintaining a sense of solemnity. Notably, the yellow color of jackfruit wood is associated with Buddhist symbolism, representing purity and enlightenment. This makes jackfruit wood an ideal material for crafting Buddha statues and religious offerings.
Spiritual Significance
In addition to its material advantages, jackfruit wood also carries profound spiritual and religious significance, making it favored for creating religious statues.
In many rural areas of Vietnam, jackfruit trees are often planted around homes, especially in temples and communal houses. Vietnamese people believe that jackfruit trees bring luck, wealth, and peace to families. Therefore, when using jackfruit wood to carve religious statues, it is believed that these statues absorb the good spiritual energy from the tree, bringing peace and prosperity to the worshippers.
Jackfruit wood has a light, pleasant aroma that is not overpowering, enhancing the solemn and serene atmosphere of worship spaces. In religious ceremonies, tranquility and reverence are crucial factors. Thus, using jackfruit wood, which has a mild fragrance, contributes to the sacred ambiance during religious rituals.
Widely Available and Accessible
Another reason jackfruit wood is a popular choice is that this type of wood is quite easy to find in Vietnam. Jackfruit trees are easy to grow, quick to develop, and widely present across various regions. People often plant jackfruit trees in their gardens, not only for the fruit but also for wood use when necessary. As a result, jackfruit wood is more readily available and less expensive compared to other precious woods like rosewood or sandalwood.
Thanks to its popularity and accessibility, jackfruit wood has become a familiar material for the Vietnamese people, not only in daily life but also in religious and spiritual activities.
Using jackfruit wood to create religious statues also reflects the connection between humans and nature. The jackfruit tree is an environmentally friendly species, easy to grow, resistant to pests, and requiring minimal care. Utilizing jackfruit wood does not have a significant impact on forest resources, contributing to ecological protection.
This reflects the philosophy of life of the ancients: living in harmony with nature and valuing sustainability in both spirituality and daily life.
