Tens of thousands of Buddhists have turned out in Taiwan
to welcome what is purported to be a finger of Buddha (who died 2,000
years ago) on its arrival for a month-long stay on the island. The relic,
housed in a jewelled casket, was flown in to Taipei from China, where
it is normally on display at a temple in Xian. It was then driven amid
tight security through chanting crowds to be displayed at a stadium in
the Taiwanese capital.

Several other relics believed to be parts of his body
– including a number of teeth – are preserved in various monasteries in
Asia. Buddhists waving yellow flags lined the streets to welcome the finger.
Later, thousands attended a ceremony at a Taipei stadium where the finger
was placed on an orchid-decorated platform for worship.

“Looking at the bone is like seeing the Buddha himself,”
Chinese monk I Kong said. “We hope Buddha”s finger could inspire
friendly love and peace across the Taiwan Strait,” he said. Taiwan
and China separated amid civil war in 1949. In recent years, many Taiwanese
have visited Chinese temples to worship and to view their rich collections
of Buddhist scriptures and relics.