: Whether crafted from stone, fiber, or marble , the choice of material dictates both the statue's longevity and its market value.

: In villages like Bảo Hà, tourists who buy statues directly support local craftsmen and ensure the survival of traditional wood-carving arts.

In many traditions, a statue only becomes a living presence through specific rituals. For instance, followers of Guanyin might buy statues that have already undergone a kaiguang (eye-opening) ceremony, transforming a mass-produced object into a sacred mediator for prayer. This illustrates a unique tension: while the object is bought as a commodity, its value is derived from its "animation" and the spiritual hopes invested in it. Literary Reflections: The Stillness of Memory