Returning treasures
Published: 19 Oct. 2014, 22:23
The National Museum of Korea is showing its latest acquisitions until Nov. 30, including a box decorated in mother-of-pearl from the latter part of the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), left, which is meant to store Buddhist sutra, a type of religious texts. Only eight of these boxes are known to exist, none of which were stored in Korea until now. This piece had been kept in Japan but was donated to the museum this year. The wooden lion, right, is a 19th-century drum stand used in Buddhist rituals. The relic features lotus flower patterns and paint pigments can be seen sporadically on it, which means its whole body might have been painted. The drum is missing, however. The two items are among 12 being showcased at the museum. Others include an eighth-century Buddha statue; 15th- to 16th-century Buncheong ware, a type of early Joseon ceramic; and a 19th-century Japanese painting of Japan’s second invasion of Korea (1597-98).
Provided by the museum
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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