Long Son Pagoda, By Barbra J. Anello

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Recommended: Buddhism today in Vietnam

For this discussion I have chosen the photograph Long Son Pagoda, taken by Barbra J. Anello during her journey to Southeast Asia, for her collection of “Photographs of Southeast Asia and Morocco”. Anello’s photograph Long Son Pagoda was taken in Na Trang, Vietnam on March 3, 2008 (“Barbara…”). Anello is an American photographer who travels to the Southeastern Asian countries, to document the historical aspect of the traditional art and culture (“Barbara…”). The photograph Long Son Pagoda represents the belief in Buddhism and depicts the Vietnamese culture in the background of the photograph. The photo consists of a white Buddha statue that is sitting on a concrete stand that is framed by yellow lines and pink lotus flowers. The Buddha statue …show more content…

It has been stated in the textbook that Buddhism is a lifestyle and a mediation practice (Altshuler and Janaro 282). Therefore, the white Buddha statue represents enlightenment and purity within the religion of Buddhism (Heim 367). The Buddha statue is the most prominent object within the picture, thus it depicts the representation of Buddhism as the overall main topic in the photograph. The lotus flowers that are pink in the photograph represent fortune and beauty within the Vietnamese culture (St John 562). In Vietnam there are three different colors of the lotus flower, which each represents a different meaning: red represents beauty; pink represents history; white represents purity (St John 562). By having that being said, the worshipers who are taking a picture with the white Buddha statue along with the pink lotus flowers represent the respect of the belief of Buddhism, in capturing their moment with the statue. Anello’s photograph of Long Son Pagoda capture the historical aspects of the Vietnamese culture along with the belief of Buddhism. There are many symbolic representations within the photo that are influenced by the Vietnamese culture and the religion of

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