Myanmar, die Marmorkünstler von Mandalay (360° - GEO Reportage)

Myanmar - the land of golden pagodas. The country's beauty never ceases to enchant. This display of splendor is fueled by the veneration of Buddha. The largest marble statue in Mandalay measures over 20 meters. Myanmar's second-largest city is famous for the artistry of its marble carvers. Monasteries and temples throughout Asia continually demand new images of the sublime. And Mandalay's artisans deliver thousands upon thousands of flawless Buddha statues. The white cliffs of the marble quarries lie north of the city. True artists work here. A film by Martin Schacht © 2018, Licensed by MedienKontor / ARTE Season 19 - Episode 2 Subscribe to wocomoTRAVEL: https://goo.gl/tIk2Qc Follow us on Facebook:   / wocomo   Press release: The veneration of Buddha in Myanmar is not necessarily a matter of silent devotion. Often enough, it resembles a colorful folk festival. Whoever donates a Buddha statue acquires merit for themselves and their relatives for this and all future lives. And so, whoever can afford it donates as many Buddha images as possible. Mandalay, with 1.6 million inhabitants, is Myanmar's second-largest city. Just 60 kilometers north, near the village of Sagyin, lie the marble quarries. They provide a particularly fine white stone. Anything unsuitable for making Buddha statues is processed into tiles or terrazzo. Almost everything in the village of Sagyin revolves around marble, and almost everyone makes a living from it. U Po Ther is considered one of Sagyin's best sculptors. In formerly isolated Myanmar, he negotiates with clients from all over Asia by cell phone. Buddha statues always look different. Each country has its own style. And every pose has its own meaning.