Ancient Buddhist Scriptures

[Anchor Lead]

Ancient Buddhist scriptures have been discovered in a Buddhist statue dating back to the Joseon period. The scriptures were found using medical CT equipment.

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A Buddhist statue in Silsangsa Temple in Namwon, Jeollabuk-do Province, has been found to contain Buddhist scriptures inside. The scriptures were found during a CT exam at a hospital. They appeared on the CT image in the form of a round blurry bead in the head of the statue. From a different angle, the folded paperappears more clearly. The scriptures were taken out and analyzed. They are believed to date to the Goryeo period of the late 14th century. The scriptures were written distinctly on mulberry paper using silver powder.

[Soundbite] Ven. Jejeong(Director, Research Institute of Buddhist Cultural Heritage) : "These scriptures describe the initial period of regional aristocratism. They have all it takes to become a national cultural property."

The scriptures were presumably kept in the temple before they were put inside the statue during the Joseon period. What makes this discovery unusual is that the scriptures were found during a CT exam without damaging the statue. However, the researchers had to borrow medical CT equipment, as there is no equipment for screening cultural heritage artifacts.

[Soundbite] Chung Ji-yeon(Research Institute of Buddhist Cultural Heritage) : "There is no equipment to examine large Buddhist statues. If such equipment is installed, it may contribute greatly to producing significant academic results."

The Research Institute of Buddhist Cultural Heritage plans to apply for the designation of the scriptures and the statue as national cultural properties.