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Luang Prabang is a small town near the confluence of the Mekong River and its tributary, the

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Nam Khan. The Lan Shang Kingdom unified the country of Laos in the 14th century and Luang

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Prabang became its capital. The town since then has been known as a Mecca for Theravada

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Buddhism, also known as Hinayama Buddhism. The influence of this early form of Buddhism

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resulted in 80 monasteries in the town. The most representative example is Wat Siang Tong

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temple built in the 16th century. The front of the temple is decorated with gold carvings.

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The roof is multi-layered. This style is the Luang Prabang style. It is only found here.

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The temple's back wall features the impressive Tree of Life. It depicts the story of Buddha

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placing the large tree which is said to have stood here in the center of the picture. The

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main interior is covered with miniature paintings from the pillars to the ceiling. Around 39

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monks currently live in this temple. The youngest is this 10-year-old boy, Phua. He learns and

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performs temple practices while going to school. He even reads sutras written on a wooden board

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during his free time. It is six in the morning. The monks are doing an arms round, a morning

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practice. People in town come out to the street and wait for the monks. Luang Prabang has

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approximately 16,000 people and around 1,200 monks, almost 10% of the total population.

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The arms processions of Buddhist monks take place every day. The townspeople are devout

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Buddhists. They place sticky rice into the arms bowls. Phua finally got used to asking

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people for arms after two months' apprenticeship as a monk. This woman says the monks represent

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the Buddha. They inspire good deeds and are a way of venerating ancestors. The food received

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during the arms round is to become their breakfast. Meals are taken twice in the morning. After

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midday, they are only allowed to drink water. Phua shares a room with three other young

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monks. Phua's life is now devoted to Buddha.

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