Some days you carry more than you should. This hand-carved Fasting Buddha — solid Kiaat wood, carved by family artisans in Thuong Tin, Hanoi — gives you a quiet corner to set the weight down.
🌿 Meaning & Symbolism
Known in art history as the Emaciated Siddhartha, this figure depicts Prince Siddhartha during six years of extreme ascetic practice — pushing his body to its limit in search of enlightenment. Carved with anatomical precision: the visible ribs, the hollowed features, the stillness in the eyes.
But it doesn't glorify suffering. It marks the moment just before awakening — when Siddhartha recognized that neither indulgence nor deprivation leads to peace. He chose the Middle Way.
For the modern world, this is the statue that says: you don't have to punish yourself to find balance. You just need somewhere to return to.
🌿 The Wood & The Craft
This piece is carved from Kiaat wood (Pterocarpus angolensis), a South African hardwood in the padauk family, also known as Mukwa or Muninga — heavier and more durable than the softwoods often substituted in cheaper versions of this figure, and better suited to holding the fine anatomical detail this carving demands. It's imported specifically for pieces like this one, where the ribs and hollows need to survive the carving process without the wood chipping or splitting.
Carved entirely by hand by artisan families in Thuong Tin village — no CNC assistance. The slightly uneven texture in close-up photos is the fingerprint of that handwork, not a flaw. Each piece comes from a single block, so the grain you receive is yours alone.
🎁 Gifting
Chosen often for people navigating burnout, grief, or a hard transition — and for the collector who wants a piece with real weight behind it, not just a decorative object. Fitting for Vesak Day or Mental Health Awareness Month gifting.
Suited to a quiet corner of a living room, home office, or meditation space — elevated, at or above seated eye level. Works well against light, neutral surfaces where the carving's detail can hold attention without competing for it.
