Smoke, No Fire

Abstract

A posting on Facebook provides an unexpected addition to the publication of “A Buddha Image for Exorcism,” The Journal of Burma Studies 20, no. 2 (2016): 335–372. The journal article established the identity and manner in which a noncanonical Buddha image was most likely created and used by Buddhist wizards (weikza). These conclusions are now corroborated and expanded by photographs, a video clip, and a note posted by Hla Than Aung (www.facebook.com/ aung.hlathan/posts/1754717078153948; Posted: 9 September 2017; Accessed: 18 February 2019). The image on Facebook, reportedly used especially for exorcism, is clearly akin to that in the Burma Art Collection, Northern Illinois University (NIU), although it is more recently and crudely cast in a silver-colored metal rather than bronze. The iconography and dress are alike: the standing image holds a myrobalan fruit in each hand, the left hand extended forward; the right, not left, shoulder is covered by the robe (the sanghati robe is not indicated); there are four (instead of nine) sa, da, ba, wa “in” or cabalistic squares on the chest and back and on both palms; bits along the inner margin of the middle finger on the right hand are missing (deliberately removed?); the hair of both figures resembles a cap, and on the internet image there may be an addition to the original; a wide belt girds the figure and there is a “relic” or “philosopher stone” pellet inside. Hla Than Aung notes: