Wishing all Buddhists a peaceful Vesak Day. I took this photo of Buddhist statues while on holiday in Karuizawa, Japan, last year.
Buddhism originated more than 2,000 years ago in ancient India. It then spread via the Silk Road to China during the Han Dynasty in the first century AD. About 500 years later, it reached Japan from the Korean kingdom of Baekje.
In Singapore, Buddhism was brought to our shores by our migrant forefathers. In its long history, Buddhism has permeated and profoundly shaped the cultures of these societies, leaving a rich legacy in many areas including art, literature, and philosophy. – LHL
祝愿所有佛教徒卫塞节平安快乐。这张照片是我去年在日本长野县轻井泽町度假时拍摄的。
从释迦牟尼于菩提树下悟道成佛至今已经有两千多年了。佛教从古印度传开，约公元一世纪中国汉代时经由丝绸之路传入中原地区，之后陆续传播至朝鲜半岛。大约五百年后从古代朝鲜国百济传入日本。佛教也在十九世纪随着许多早期移民到新加坡的先辈, 在本地传开来。久而久之，佛教也影响了这些地区的艺术、文学、哲学等文化遗产。
－李显龙
(Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture./ Photo by me)
