Upon entering the Buddhist Central Museum in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday, three Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva statues displayed side by side immediately capture the eye. They are the gilt-bronze seated Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva from Jijangbogung Hall of Seonunsa Temple in Gochang-gun, North Jeolla Province; the stone seated Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva from Jijangjeon Hall of Chamdangam, a hermitage of Seonunsa; and the gilt-bronze seated Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva from Naewongung Hall of Dosolam, also belonging to Seonunsa. All three are designated as "Treasures" by the state. This marks the first time these statues have left their temples to be exhibited together.
The Buddhist Central Museum of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and Seonunsa Temple are holding the special exhibition "Dosol Mountain Seonunsa: Entering Zen, Resting on Clouds" at the museum's main exhibition hall through July 31, showcasing cultural heritage from Seonunsa's main temple and its branch temples. Located on Dosol Mountain in Gochang, Seonunsa was founded in 577 by the monk Geomdan during the reign of King Wideok of Baekje and has served as a center of Buddhist practice and faith in the North Jeolla region. It is regarded as a sacred site of Ksitigarbha faith and currently serves as the headquarters of the Jogye Order's 24th District.
The exhibition brings together a total of 157 sacred artifacts in 81 items, including one National Treasure and 11 Treasures. Alongside pieces from Seonunsa and its branch temples, cultural heritage items held by other temples such as Songgwangsa, Yongmunsa, and Bulamsa, as well as institutions including Dongguk University Museum and Library, Horim Museum, and the Amorepacific Museum, are on display together.
The highlight of the special exhibition is the three Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva statues, gathered together for the first time since Seonunsa's founding. The statues were made between the late Goryeo and early Joseon periods. Ksitigarbha is the bodhisattva who vowed not to attain Buddhahood until all sentient beings in hell are saved. Ksitigarbha statues are rarely enshrined alone, making them highly significant in the history of Buddhist sculpture.
The three statues share common features: instead of ornate crowns, they wear hoods on their heads, and elaborate yeongnak (bead ornaments) are depicted on their chests. However, each statue projects a slightly different charm. The gilt-bronze seated Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva from Seonunsa's Jijangbogung Hall is striking for its realistically rendered hood and the long horizontal pleats unfolding across the legs. The gilt-bronze seated Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva from Dosolam's Naewongung Hall has the most imposing physique and majestic facial features. The stone seated Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva from Chamdangam's Jijangjeon Hall, carved from granite, has a large head and relatively narrow shoulders, giving it a solemn appearance.
The gilt-bronze seated Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva from Seonunsa's Jijangbogung Hall is famous for the miraculous story of its recovery after being illegally smuggled to Japan in 1936 during the Japanese colonial period. After the theft, Ksitigarbha reportedly appeared in the thieves' dreams, scolding them repeatedly, while the collectors who had illegally purchased the statue suffered illnesses and declining fortunes in an unbroken string of misfortunes. They eventually turned themselves in to the police, revealing the statue's whereabouts, and in 1938—two years after the theft—monks from Seonunsa traveled to Hiroshima, Japan, to bring the statue back.
"Bringing together in one space the three Ksitigarbha Bodhisattvas, who had been watching over the suffering of sentient beings from their respective sanctuaries, is an exceedingly precious connection," said the Venerable Seobong, director of the Buddhist Central Museum. "The compassionate smile of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva will serve as a lantern of warm comfort and hope for those of us living through these trying times."
The exhibition also offers a rare chance to see the bronze bell of Naesosa Temple, a National Treasure, in person. The Naesosa bronze bell features a dynamic dragon carved onto the loop used to hang the bell, and a delicately engraved triad of Buddhas seated on clouds at its center, demonstrating the essence of late Goryeo metal craftsmanship. Once the exhibition ends, the bell will return to Naesosa's storage, where public viewing is difficult.
The Buddhist Central Museum also plans to hold a "Buddhist Culture Lecture" in June introducing the value of Seonunsa's cultural heritage.
