In SE Asia, different cultures shared similar, yet different religious beliefs. They included the Khmer Empire in what is now Cambodia; Dai Viet in what is now Vietnam; Sukhothai, Ayutthaya and Lanna Kingdoms in what is now Thailand; the Taungoo Empire in Burma (now Myanmar); Yunnan Tribes from China; and Laos. All of them practiced Buddhism and all of them at one time or another, occupied and politically controlled much larger areas than their current borders. Laos is no exception. From the middle of the 14th century until the beginning of the 18th century, the unified kingdom of Lan Xang (1354-1707), was one of the largest kingdoms in SE Asia and occupied areas of all of its current neighbors, however, its strategic landlocked location along the Mekong River, invited numerous invasions throughout history.As the kingdom was losing its political influence in the early 18th century, it was divided into three regional kingdoms, Vientiane, Champasak, and the largest, Luang Prabang. All of their capitals were located along the Mekong River and all were agrarian societies that needed two monsoon seasons per year to sustain their populations. And each of them developed unique architectural elements and religious ideology. Among the most unusual were “The Calling for the Rain” standing Buddha images of Luang Prabang, in which both arms of Buddha are held along the side of the body with the hands facing inward. This extremely large bronze figure of the “Calling for the Rain” Buddha from Luang Phrabang period, late 17/18th century, features a tall slender body standing in samabhanga with his hands held down to either side, creating Calling for the Rain Mudra, His diaphanous cloak (samghati) with a scroll-edged flaring hem and center pleat is secured with a belt. He features a crisply defined face with a serene visage and penetrating downcast eyes inlaid with black semi-precious stones and mother-of-pearl and the small conical curls of his coiffure rise to a domed ushnisha and separately cast flaming cintamani (precious gem) that still show traces of gilt and colored lacquer. Supported on a modern pedestal. 67 inches, excluding base. Minor damage to base.