Relics found in Bodhisattva statue of Song-guang Temple

順天 松廣寺 腹藏 遺物

순천 송광사 복장 유물 전시회 (국립 고궁박물관)

Discovery of relics in a wooden Bodhisattva statue of Song-guang Temple in Suncheon 

(National Palace Museum of Korea)

Bok-jang-yu-mul refers to 'relic in the Buddhist statue' in Korean.

Ancestors put valuables into Buddhist statues after making them, praying for their health and happiness.

In 2009, Joseon Dinasty's bok-jang-yu-mul were found in a wooden Bodhisattva statue in Song-guang Temple, Suncheon.

the donor were two court ladies(宮女), Ms.Noh and Ms.Park, who had served Prince Gyeong-an(1644-1665). 

They created this wooden Bodhisattva statue praying for longevity of Prince  Gyeong-an  and his wife in 1662.

However, Prince Gyeong-an died young in 1665.

Prince Kyung-an's father was So-hyeon(소현세자) who had been dragged to China after the invasion by Ching China(淸) in 1636, So-hyeon could be back to Joseon afterwards but died suddenly in 1645.(His death is now believed to be conducted by his father King In-jo, who feared his son's new ideologies)

Along with So-hyeon's death, his wife, Gang-bin(강빈), falsely accused of putting poison into king's food and executed leaving her three sons.

However, survived three sons, including Prince  Gyeong-an, unfortunately, all died in their early ages.


Few months ago, very popular Korean TV drama "Chu-no(追奴)" had dealt with this story,
so this exhibition made my heart more painful to his life.