Footprints are the (not so) new rabbit foot

Seeing Buddha’s footprint is a rather common sight in Myanmar. It symbolises Buddha’s spiritual journey - one which should be followed in his footsteps - and his presence on earth. Buddha’s footprints are sacred and sometimes even coated in gold.

Some Buddhists raise parents on an equal footing with the Buddha, some even calling them ‘living Buddha on earth’. It is hence no surprise that, just like the Buddha, grateful children revere their parents’ feet: molding it or painting it.

“Myanmar people yearn for their mother whenever they face difficulties,” says U Kyaw Thu, who twice won the Myanmar Academy award for film actor and is currently the head of Yangon’s Free Funeral Service Society. He himself always keeps a token reminding him of his mom “to avoid bad situation” or being caught on the wrong foot.
The 58-year-old has been keeping a little piece of his mother’s longyi in his wallet for the past fifteen years. He brings it wherever he goes.
“I tore a piece of my mom’s longyi without letting her know once when I was washing it. She’s more than 80-years-old now,” he confides.
He recently molded footprints of his parents made of fiber coated in gold and exposes the resulting sculptures near an altar which he worships every morning and night.

Admittedly, his parents were surprised when strangers came to take the blueprint of their footprints. U Kyaw Thu quickly explained to them that he “values the steps they have been taking their whole life till now –passing through many difficulties”. They did not object to the unusual request and looked pleased.
However most superstitious persons also believe that stepping on someone’s name or symbol brings bad luck – so watch your steps. They might find hanging footprints on walls controversial but U Kyaw Thu disagrees.
“Please make decisions based on whether it makes sense or not. It is not ok if one is too superstitious”.
Immortalising the steps which matter
Versatile artist Aung Kyaw Tun, well-known for his silicon statue of General Aung San at the general’s house as well as 32 other bronzes on display throughout the country this year, has made it a business to mold footprints.
So far, he already accepted 50 requests to mold parents feet, including actor U Kyaw Thu. One can choose to have it made in gold or silver coated fiber or silicon and real gold, silver or bronze. A fiber pair of feet costs K150,000 or K200,000 per silicon pair.

The artist says it is a triple win: for the artist, the client (generally the son or daughter) and for the parents of the customers.
Unsurprisingly, most customers of the Golden Land favour the gold coated fiber option, which symbolises worship and value. Most customers are from Yangon but the artist also travels to other cities to take the molds.
Unfortunately, artist Aung Kyaw Tun could not immortalise the footprints of his own parents as they passed away.
As he is now the proud father of two, the artist hopes that his offspring will one day want to frame his footprints on their wall as a sign of recognition. Who wouldn’t want their dad’s feet framed above the dining table? We know it is every parent’s secret hope.