SEATTLE - Thousands of people gathered Saturday at Co Lam Pagoda, a Vietnamese Buddist temple in Seattle, to welcome the Jade Buddha.
"The Jade Buddha for Universal Peace" stands nearly nine feet tall, weighs about four tons and was carved entirely out of one block of jade. It has been valued at $5 million.
The jade was found in British Columbia 10 years ago. An Australian couple, Ian and Judy Green, bought the jade and had it carved into a Buddha.
"The purpose of this Buddha is to bring peace and to spread the light of peace around the world. Therefore I believe bringing the Buddha here to Seattle will in fact do that," said Ian Green.
The Jade Buddha will be on display in Seattle until August 29. It will then continue on tour.
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