CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR EVENT

Theravāda Buddhism

This thought-provoking exhibition charts the history and influence of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition across the world, including its role in Scotland today.

Theravāda Buddhism

About Theravāda Buddhism

16th Sep 2024 to 9th Mar 2025
Normal opening hours
National Museum of Scotland
National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh Old Town EH1 1JF
NA
Visit the event website here

The Theravāda tradition is one of the oldest forms of Buddhism. As one of the two main branches of the faith, it remains strong in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.

The display includes a Buddha on loan from The Dhammapadipa Temple in Edinburgh. The Buddha was designed and made in Thailand in 2013, then later gifted to Temple where it is now used in their garden meditation room. The image takes inspiration from the Phra Phuttha Chinnarat (Great Victorious Buddha), one of the most revered Buddha images in Thailand.

Alongside the loan are 40 objects from the South and Southeast Asian collection, dating from the 2nd century AD to the present day. They include amulets, relics, statues, and votive offerings, all of which were and are used by Buddhists in their everyday religious practice.

A set of 19th century spinning gongs from Myanmar are also on display. Audio recordings of the gongs provide visitors with a sensory experience, representative of the sound of visiting a temple. The gongs are played by Ewan Millar, percussion student at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Sponsored Links

Fayre Play
Children's Classic Concerts
Scotonomics
Escape The Past

Other Events at National Museum of Scotland

Cold War Scotland

13th July 2024 - 4th January 2026

Exploring Scotland’s critical position on the frontline of the Cold War, a new exhibition will tell the stories of the Scots at the centre of this global conflict.

READ MORE

Injecting Hope: The Race for a COVID-19 Vaccine

25th January 2025 - 27th April 2025

Injecting Hope is a new, free exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland that presents the science behind the COVID-19 vaccine.

READ MORE

Scottish Ensemble: Concerts for a Summer’s Night

14th June 2025

Join the Scottish Ensemble for their annual summer concert at National Museum of Scotland on 14th July 2025!

READ MORE

Sponsored Links

St Mary's Music School
St Mary's Music School
Edinburgh Dungeon
ATG

Similar events you might like...

Gamma PhotoForum Exhbition

Gamma PhotoForum Exhbition

22nd February 2025 - 23rd February 2025

Come along to the Edinburgh Photographic Society on 22nd & 23rd February for two photography exhibitions at a single venue!

READ MORE
Jerwood Survey III

Jerwood Survey III

28th February 2025 - 4th May 2025

Jerwood Survey, a major biennial touring exhibition that presents new commissions by 10 early-career artists from across the UK, is showing at Collective Edinburgh from 28th February!

READ MORE
Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography

Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography

28th February 2025 - 7th September 2025

This exhibition at The Palace of Holyroodhouse, charts the evolution of royal portrait photography from the 1920s to the present day!

READ MORE
The Scottish Motorcycle Show

The Scottish Motorcycle Show

8th March 2025 - 9th March 2025

The Scottish Motorcycle Show returns to the Royal Highland Centre on March 8th & 9th with all the latest models, major manufacturers, and breath-taking live action!

READ MORE
Exhibition: Recent Work by Mike Turpie

Exhibition: Recent Work by Mike Turpie

8th March 2025 - 30th March 2025

The Scottish Storytelling Centre is holding an exhibition of works by Edinburgh based painter, Mike Turpie in March!

READ MORE
Ian Hamilton Finlay

Ian Hamilton Finlay

8th March 2025 - 26th May 2025

The centenary of celebrated Scottish artist Ian Hamilton Finlay (1925-2006) will be marked by a new, free display of his work at the National Galleries of Scotland: Modern.

READ MORE
Gaza – Before & After Exhibition

Gaza – Before & After Exhibition

11th March 2025 - 15th March 2025

Gaza – Before & After Exhibition is a series of powerful photographs and miniature dioramas illustrating Gaza before, during and after, showing at Out of the Blue Drill Hall from 11th - 15th March.

READ MORE
Reuse, Renew Exhibition

Reuse, Renew Exhibition

18th March 2025 - 20th March 2025

This exhibition, at Out of the Blue Drill Hall, showcases artworks created by participants of the Room for Art workshops, a programme dedicated to supporting health and wellbeing through creativity.

READ MORE
Day 811 - Twenty Seven months of Nature Journaling

Day 811 - Twenty Seven months of Nature Journaling

22nd March 2025

Join Pete Carthy on Saturday, 22nd March for an extraordinary celebration of art, nature, and storytelling as he presents his remarkable exhibition, 811 Days of Nature Journaling!

READ MORE

Find other events in Edinburgh

Sponsored Links

Fayre Play
Children's Classic Concerts
Scotonomics
Escape The Past
St Mary's Music School
St Mary's Music School
Edinburgh Dungeon
ATG

Popular Events

Campfire Country Music Festival
Get ready for a boot-stompin' good time at this year's Campfire Country Music Festival on Friday 23rd May at the Royal Highland Centre!
Navigating Feelings Of Loss And Change When Living With MS - CANCELLED
Join the Multiple Sclerosis Society Scotland for this two day, in person course to learn about how you can navigate feelings of loss and change when living with MS.
We Love It: Family-Friendly Tribute Festival
Join us at the Royal Highland Centre on Sunday 25th May for an unforgettable day of music, food and family fun at: We Love It: Family-Friendly Music Festival!
Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: In Concert
For the first time ever, Jim Henson's original masterpiece and musical fantasy film Labyrinth is to tour the UK in concert, don't miss it live at Edinburgh's Usher Hall on Saturday 29th November!
Laurie Wright
Laurie Wright is a guitar driven, rock n roll juggernaut who has quickly scaled the heights of the live music scene over the last few years! Catch him live at Cabaret Voltaire on Friday 2nd May!

Popular Listings

Corn Exchange Haddington Edinburgh Playhouse Festival Theatre Edinburgh Howden Park Centre Livingston Kings Theatre Edinburgh National Museum of Scotland O2 Academy Edinburgh The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh Traverse Theatre Usher Hall