Post by MCDemuth on May 9, 2018 20:04:43 GMT
Hoard of Scrolls and Artifacts Discovered in Antique Japanese Statuette
According to the Japanese State Broadcaster NHK, experts have made an astonishing discovery in a Buddhist statuette in Japan. Investigators, from the Nara National University examined the statuette and they were amazed to discover some 180 artifacts inside the object, that is usually kept at the Hokkeji Temple in the ancient Japanese capital of Nara. Some 150 artifacts - mainly scrolls - were discovered in the body of the statuette and another thirty in its head. This raises the question as to why the items were apparently hidden in a statuette and forgotten. Not even the head priest had any inkling that the figure contained such a treasure trove.
The Statuette of the Bodhisattva
The Hokkeji Temple was built in the 8 th century AD when Buddhism was becoming very popular. At the time Nara was one of the centers of Buddhist activity in Japan. The temple is home to many treasures and the statue with the hoard of artifacts is just one of the many rare and precious objects housed at the site.
The statuette portrays Monju Bosatsu, a Bodhisattva, that is a person who has elected not to enter Nirvana or to become a Buddha, in order to help humanity to escape suffering. The statue is believed to be approximately seven centuries old and has been in the possession of the temple for many years. The statuette of Monju Bosatsu only stands at 73 cm or 30 inches high.
Monju Bosatsu is associated with wisdom and is venerated for his ability to help individuals to become enlightened and is usually depicted as a youth. He is often portrayed with scrolls, and with a sword in his hand, symbolizing his ability to cut through ignorance and illusions. The Bodhisattva is venerated as one of the four great bodhisattvas and has been depicted in Buddhist art in many countries in East Asia.
Based on a close examination of the statuette Japanese experts were certain that the figure of the Bodhisattva contained some artifacts or scrolls. It was quite a common practice for items and even mummies to be placed in Buddhist statues, all over Asia. After consulting with the head priest and others at the Hokkeji Temple a group of local experts, were granted permission to examine the precious statuette, on condition that they did not damage the object.
The find of the artifacts has raised an important issue for the investigating team and for the temple. The items are undoubtedly of great historic and archaeological interest, but they cannot be examined at present as they are sealed inside the statuette of Monju Bosatsu. There is a dilemma for the team. Do they damage a rare statuette to reveal the hoard to the world, or do they simply leave the scrolls and objects where they are? According to Newsweek ‘whether scientists will crack into the figurine to reveal the artifacts inside remains to be seen’.
It seems unlikely that anyone will establish why the artifacts were placed in the statuette and their exact nature for some time to come.
www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/hoard-scrolls-and-artifacts-discovered-antique-japanese-statuette-0010017
According to the Japanese State Broadcaster NHK, experts have made an astonishing discovery in a Buddhist statuette in Japan. Investigators, from the Nara National University examined the statuette and they were amazed to discover some 180 artifacts inside the object, that is usually kept at the Hokkeji Temple in the ancient Japanese capital of Nara. Some 150 artifacts - mainly scrolls - were discovered in the body of the statuette and another thirty in its head. This raises the question as to why the items were apparently hidden in a statuette and forgotten. Not even the head priest had any inkling that the figure contained such a treasure trove.
The Statuette of the Bodhisattva
The Hokkeji Temple was built in the 8 th century AD when Buddhism was becoming very popular. At the time Nara was one of the centers of Buddhist activity in Japan. The temple is home to many treasures and the statue with the hoard of artifacts is just one of the many rare and precious objects housed at the site.
The statuette portrays Monju Bosatsu, a Bodhisattva, that is a person who has elected not to enter Nirvana or to become a Buddha, in order to help humanity to escape suffering. The statue is believed to be approximately seven centuries old and has been in the possession of the temple for many years. The statuette of Monju Bosatsu only stands at 73 cm or 30 inches high.
Monju Bosatsu is associated with wisdom and is venerated for his ability to help individuals to become enlightened and is usually depicted as a youth. He is often portrayed with scrolls, and with a sword in his hand, symbolizing his ability to cut through ignorance and illusions. The Bodhisattva is venerated as one of the four great bodhisattvas and has been depicted in Buddhist art in many countries in East Asia.
Based on a close examination of the statuette Japanese experts were certain that the figure of the Bodhisattva contained some artifacts or scrolls. It was quite a common practice for items and even mummies to be placed in Buddhist statues, all over Asia. After consulting with the head priest and others at the Hokkeji Temple a group of local experts, were granted permission to examine the precious statuette, on condition that they did not damage the object.
The find of the artifacts has raised an important issue for the investigating team and for the temple. The items are undoubtedly of great historic and archaeological interest, but they cannot be examined at present as they are sealed inside the statuette of Monju Bosatsu. There is a dilemma for the team. Do they damage a rare statuette to reveal the hoard to the world, or do they simply leave the scrolls and objects where they are? According to Newsweek ‘whether scientists will crack into the figurine to reveal the artifacts inside remains to be seen’.
It seems unlikely that anyone will establish why the artifacts were placed in the statuette and their exact nature for some time to come.
www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/hoard-scrolls-and-artifacts-discovered-antique-japanese-statuette-0010017
Should the statue be 'cracked open' to retrieve the artifacts, or should the statue be left it intact?
Personally, I find that to be a tough decision to make...
I am sure that in order to get the artifacts out, the statue would have to be, all but destroyed... That would be terrible to damage something created over 1000 years ago...
However, what if those scrolls contains information on how to, let's say, "cure the world's diseases"? Obviously, that would be more valuable for us to have, and might justify, destroying to the statue...
Then again, those scrolls might only be useful in lining bird cages... And then, the more valuable statue would be gone...
We just don't know. It's unfortunate that we can't know for sure, before the statue is broken open.
I have to agree with the article, that I think it will be a long time, before someone decides to crack open the Statue.
Thoughts?
