The Buddha's affinity with the horse chestnut tree

The shape of the horse chestnut

The sal tree is also known as the horse-leaf tree, named because its leaves resemble palms and mostly have seven leaves. This tree blooms in early summer. The flowers are shaped like a tower or a candlestick. When the flowers bloom, the palm-like leaves hold up the tower, and it also looks like they are offering candlesticks. The four pale white petals are in full bloom, and the seven orange-red stamens in the center exude fragrance. The yellow color on the petals makes the small flowers more pretty. From a distance, the whole bunch of flowers is white with a hint of purple, as if covered with a thin veil.

The Buddha's affinity with the horse chestnut tree

In ancient India, there was a river called Hiraniyadi, on the bank of which grew a very tall and lush sal tree (also called Sal tree). One day when Sakyamuni was 80 years old, he went into the Hiraniyadi River to take a bath, then went ashore and walked into the twin sal trees. He spread grass and leaves between two larger sal trees and placed the Sangha on top of them. Then he lay on the Sangha on his right side with his head facing north and west, his head resting on his right hand. Finally, he attained Nirvana and ascended to heaven. Therefore, the reclining Buddha in the Reclining Buddha Temple is the statue of Sakyamuni's passing.

Horse Chestnut Daily

The sal tree is a large evergreen tree of the Dipterocarpaceae family, and borneol can be harvested from its trunk. Camphor is a high-grade natural spice and is very valuable. The famous Indian mosquito coils are made of camphor. Devout Buddhists often use camphor oil to light Buddha lamps, and often use sal wood to burn incense to worship Buddha, making the Buddha hall full of fragrance. In countries such as India and Thailand, bodies are burned with wood after death. Rich and noble families often use the twin sal trees as fuel.

Horse Chestnut Medicinal Uses

The fruit of horse chestnut contains a large amount of aescin, a toxic substance that destroys red blood cells. This toxin is not resistant to high temperatures. After steaming, the starch in the seeds can be eaten. The seeds of Chinese horse chestnut are a traditional Chinese medicine called Sala seeds, so sometimes Chinese horse chestnut is also called Sala tree.