Question

In this assignment, you viewed many different types and sizes of Buddhist statues made in many countries including South Korea, Thailand, and China.

Which of these claims can be supported by your observations?

Buddhism is only practiced in Asia.
As Buddhism spread, it incorporated ideas from local cultures.
There are no Buddhists practicing in Western countries like the United States.
Buddhism is the only religion that builds statues of this size.

Answer 1

Only the second claim is supported by those observations:

- As Buddhism spread, it incorporated ideas from local cultures.
Evidence: the statues from Korea, Thailand, China show different styles, dress, materials, facial features, and iconographic details that reflect local artistic traditions.

The other three claims are not supported:
- "Buddhism is only practiced in Asia." — false; seeing Asian statues doesn’t prove exclusivity, and Buddhism is practiced worldwide.
- "There are no Buddhists practicing in Western countries like the United States." — false; many Buddhists and Buddhist centers exist in the West.
- "Buddhism is the only religion that builds statues of this size." — false; other religions and cultures also create very large religious statues and monuments.