Buddha statue in Tsushima possible of Japanese raid, but can’t say for sure

Buddha statue in Tsushima possible of Japanese raid, but can’t say for sure. April. 12, 2016 07:16. by 도쿄=장원재특파원, 김상운 peacechaos@donga.com,기자sukim@donga.com. On the gilt bronze seated Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva statue that was brought to Korea after being stolen at Tsushima Island in the Japanese prefecture of Nagasaki, Korea's Cultural Heritage Administration submitted an audit report to prosecutors, which says “Though there is a high possibility of it being stolen by Japan, it cannot be completely ruled so.” According to the Korean Cultural Heritage Administration and NHK on Monday, the Korean agency said about the statue that Korean burglars stole in October 2012 that “it is difficult to find shipping by Japanese raiders.

The raiders brought the two statues to Korea and then were arrested by police in January 2013. Immediately after that, Buseok Temple at South Chungcheong Province said, “Back in the 14th century, Japanese raiders stole the statue that was enshrined in Buseok Temple after being produced in Korea,” and submitted a transfer ban petition. As the court admitted it, this spread into Korea-Japan diplomatic issue. The administration’s report was submitted at the end of 2014 as prosecutors asked for advice on the petition.

The administration asked for historical verification of whether it was stolen to experts to write the advising report. However, experts have not been able to find any historical materials to support the burglary. “There is possibility of a burglary since there were frequent appearings by raiders at the end of Goryeo Dynasty, but we haven’t found any records, “ an official at the administration said. “We contained historical verifications based on facts by experts to be faithful to what advising reports are.”

The administration also said on the Dong-Jo-Yeo-Rae-Ip-Sang that was also returned to Korea in July last year after being stolen, “We couldn’t find any hint of Japanese raid. There is possibility that it could have been enshrined after being passed down in Japan for exchange of Korea-Japan Buddhism culture.”

Gannon Temple where the statue is kept sent a letter to the administration asking for an early return of the statue. Buseok Temple has not filed suit for three years since filing petition, and so the Korean prosecutors can apply for cancellation of petition from February 26. Some critics say prosecutors can apply for petition cancellation and return the statue to Japan.