138 Buddhist Alms Bowls 'Balwoo' Recovered from 'Taeanseon' Revealed

Special Exhibition 'Haejeomanbal (海底萬鉢), Bowls Met Under the Sea'

The National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage announced on the 10th that from the 17th of this month until May 15th of next year, a special exhibition titled "Haeseomanbal (海底萬鉢), Bowls Encountered in the Sea" will be held at the Taean Marine Relics Exhibition Hall. The exhibition highlights the "Taeanseon," discovered in 2007 following a tip from a fisherman catching jjukkumi (webfoot octopus) off the coast of Taean. Among the approximately 23,000 pieces of Goryeo celadon excavated at that time, 138 selected items will be displayed. The term "balwoo" is derived by combining the Chinese character bal (鉢) from the Sanskrit word "patra," meaning dish, with the character woo (盂), meaning bowl. It refers to the alms bowl used by monks in temples. It is also called eunggi (應器) or eungnyanggi (應量器), meaning a vessel that holds an appropriate amount. This exhibition provides detailed information on the origin, meaning, and usage of balwoo. Visitors can also appreciate bronze balwoo excavated from Yeongguksa Temple site in Seoul, bronze balwoo from Sanoesa Temple in Cheongju, and celadon balwoo from Guinsa Temple in Danyang. Through balwoo found at Hyeumwon site in Paju, the exhibition also reflects on the tradition's succession and significance.

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