The Sacred Garden of Lumbini Perceptions of Buddha’s birthplace | 1 The Sacred Garden of Lumbini Perceptions of Buddha’s birthplace Published in 2013 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 7, place de Fontenoy, 75352 Paris 07 SP, France © UNESCO 2013 Available in Open Access. Use, re-distribution, translations and derivative works of this publication are allowed on the basis that the original source (i.e. The Sacred Garden of Lumbini. Perceptions of Buddha’s Birthplace /© UNESCO) is properly quoted and the new creation is distributed under identical terms as the original. The present license Contents applies exclusively to the text content of the publication. For use of any other material (i.e. texts, images, illustrations, charts) not clearly identified as belonging to UNESCO Foreword 1 or being in the public domain, prior permission shall be requested from UNESCO: [email protected] or UNESCO Publications, 7, place de Fontenoy, About the publication 3 75352 Paris 07 SP France. Introduction 5 ISBN 978-92-3-001208-3 kl/ro 13 The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO Perception One The garden of the gods Lumbini in early concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or Buddhist literature 19 concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Interpretation of Buddhist literature . 20 The ideas and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors; they are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit the Organization. In search for historic evidence. 21 An overview of Buddhist texts. 23 For more information, contact UNESCO Office in Kathmandu, Sanepa-2, Lalitpur, P.O. Box 14391, Kathmandu, Nepal The biographies of the many Buddhas . 26 Tel: +977-1-555 4396 Fax: +977-1-555 4450 The creation and transmission of Buddhist literature. 27 www.unesco.org/kathmandu www.facebook.com/unescokathmandu The narrative of the birth of the Buddha . 35 Compilation by Kai Weise ‘Lumbini, where I was born’ . 40 Based on contributions from Kosh Prasad Acharya, Basanta Bidari, Sayalay Bhaddamanika, Roland Lin Chih-Hung, Anil Chitrakar, Robin Coningham, Christoph Perception Two Because the Buddha was born here Lumbini Cüppers, Yukio Nishimura, Gyanin Rai, Herb Stovel and Kai Weise in historical texts 43 Peer reviewed by Lisa Choegyal, Beena Poudyal and Sudarshan Raj Tiwari Historical records . 44 After the mahāparinirvāna of Lord Buddha . 46 Front cover photo: Sacred Garden, Lumbini, UNESCO/Nabha Basnyat Thapa Back cover photo: Sacred Garden, Lumbini, Brenda Turnnidge Emperor Ashoka’s pilgrimage . 47 Graphic design: Kazi Studios, Nepal Accounts by Chinese travellers. 49 Cover design: Kazi Studios, Nepal Typeset: Kazi Studios, Nepal Pilgrimage of Ripu Malla . 54 Printed by: Hillside Printing Press Visitors after 1896. 55 Printed in Kathmandu, Nepal Involvement of the United Nations . 57 Published in 2013 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 7, place de Fontenoy, 75352 Paris 07 SP, France © UNESCO 2013 Available in Open Access. Use, re-distribution, translations and derivative works of this publication are allowed on the basis that the original source (i.e. The Sacred Garden of Lumbini. Perceptions of Buddha’s Birthplace /© UNESCO) is properly quoted and the new creation is distributed under identical terms as the original. The present license Contents applies exclusively to the text content of the publication. For use of any other material (i.e. texts, images, illustrations, charts) not clearly identified as belonging to UNESCO Foreword 1 or being in the public domain, prior permission shall be requested from UNESCO: [email protected] or UNESCO Publications, 7, place de Fontenoy, About the publication 3 75352 Paris 07 SP France. Introduction 5 ISBN 978-92-3-001208-3 kl/ro 13 The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO Perception One The garden of the gods Lumbini in early concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or Buddhist literature 19 concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Interpretation of Buddhist literature . 20 The ideas and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors; they are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit the Organization. In search for historic evidence. 21 An overview of Buddhist texts. 23 For more information, contact UNESCO Office in Kathmandu, Sanepa-2, Lalitpur, P.O. Box 14391, Kathmandu, Nepal The biographies of the many Buddhas . 26 Tel: +977-1-555 4396 Fax: +977-1-555 4450 The creation and transmission of Buddhist literature. 27 www.unesco.org/kathmandu www.facebook.com/unescokathmandu The narrative of the birth of the Buddha . 35 Compilation by Kai Weise ‘Lumbini, where I was born’ . 40 Based on contributions from Kosh Prasad Acharya, Basanta Bidari, Sayalay Bhaddamanika, Roland Lin Chih-Hung, Anil Chitrakar, Robin Coningham, Christoph Perception Two Because the Buddha was born here Lumbini Cüppers, Yukio Nishimura, Gyanin Rai, Herb Stovel and Kai Weise in historical texts 43 Peer reviewed by Lisa Choegyal, Beena Poudyal and Sudarshan Raj Tiwari Historical records . 44 After the mahāparinirvāna of Lord Buddha . 46 Front cover photo: Sacred Garden, Lumbini, UNESCO/Nabha Basnyat Thapa Back cover photo: Sacred Garden, Lumbini, Brenda Turnnidge Emperor Ashoka’s pilgrimage . 47 Graphic design: Kazi Studios, Nepal Accounts by Chinese travellers. 49 Cover design: Kazi Studios, Nepal Typeset: Kazi Studios, Nepal Pilgrimage of Ripu Malla . 54 Printed by: Hillside Printing Press Visitors after 1896. 55 Printed in Kathmandu, Nepal Involvement of the United Nations . 57 Perception Three Re-discovering Lumbini Archaeology and Perception Six A place in a sacred landscape at risk The site interpretation 61 environment of Lumbini 143 History of research . 62 Gautama Buddha, the forests and the sarus cranes . 144 Construction periods . 77 Buddhism and nature. 145 Flora . 147 Perception Four Tranquillity, universality, clarity The Kenzo Fauna. 148 Tange Master Plan 97 Water and soil characteristics . 149 United Nations' role. 98 Climatic conditions. 150 Allchin-Matsushita report (1969). 100 Managing the natural resources and the environment . 151 UN brochure ‘The birthplace of Buddha’ (1970). 104 Environmental Impact Assessment of industrial development UN Lumbini Development Project Report of the Advisory Panel around Lumbini. 154 (1971). 106 Final outline design for Lumbini (1972) . 107 Perception Seven Balancing competing requirements of Master Design for the development of Lumbini (1976-1981) . 109 faith and preservation 157 Conceptual elements of the Kenzo Tange Master Plan . 112 Analysis of visitors . 158 Sacred Garden as per the Master Plan. 115 Inner Sacred Garden . 159 Architectural Design for the Lumbini Garden. 118 Outer Sacred Garden . 162 Major changes during planning phase (1969 to 1981). 120 Balancing tourism and preservation . 164 Perception Five One of the most significant places of one of the world’s Perception Eight Peace and tranquillity What visitors expect greatest religions Lumbini as a World Heritage Property 125 from the Sacred Garden 167 History of the World Heritage nomination. 126 Visions of peace and serenity. 168 Perceptions and reactions to the nomination. 128 Revealing the expectations . 170 Attributes and elements of Outstanding Universal Value. 129 Statement of Outstanding Universal Value. 131 Conclusion 181 Boundary, buffer zone and zones of influence . 134 Management challenges . 135 Annexes 183 Lumbini’s World Heritage status and the Kenzo Tange Master Plan 138 Conservation and development guidelines . 184 Relation to territorial heritage . 140 Bibliography. 191 Abbreviations . 201 Perception Three Re-discovering Lumbini Archaeology and Perception Six A place in a sacred landscape at risk The site interpretation 61 environment of Lumbini 143 History of research . 62 Gautama Buddha, the forests and the sarus cranes . 144 Construction periods . 77 Buddhism and nature. 145 Flora . 147 Perception Four Tranquillity, universality, clarity The Kenzo Fauna. 148 Tange Master Plan 97 Water and soil characteristics . 149 United Nations' role. 98 Climatic conditions. 150 Allchin-Matsushita report (1969). 100 Managing the natural resources and the environment . 151 UN brochure ‘The birthplace of Buddha’ (1970). 104 Environmental Impact Assessment of industrial development UN Lumbini Development Project Report of the Advisory Panel around Lumbini. 154 (1971). 106 Final outline design for Lumbini (1972) . 107 Perception Seven Balancing competing requirements of Master Design for the development of Lumbini (1976-1981) . 109 faith and preservation 157 Conceptual elements of the Kenzo Tange Master Plan . 112 Analysis of visitors . 158 Sacred Garden as per the Master Plan. 115 Inner Sacred Garden . 159 Architectural Design for the Lumbini Garden. 118 Outer Sacred Garden . 162 Major changes during planning phase (1969 to 1981). 120 Balancing tourism and preservation . 164 Perception Five One of the most significant places of one of the world’s Perception Eight Peace and tranquillity What visitors expect greatest religions Lumbini as a World Heritage Property 125 from the Sacred Garden 167 History of the World Heritage