Who Owns the Goryeo Buddha Statue Stolen by Thieves from Japan? Japanese Temple Claims "Not Looted, Please Return"

Buseoksa Temple: "Buddha Statue Looted by Wako Pirates Must Be Returned"
Gannonji Temple: "Legally Owned for 500 Years with Clear Intent"

On the afternoon of the 15th, Tanaka Setsuryo, the chief monk of Kannonji Temple located in Tsushima, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, attended a trial at the Daejeon High Court in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon City, regarding the ownership of a Goryeo Dynasty gilt-bronze seated Avalokitesvara statue (Buddha statue). He is seen responding to questions from the press.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] A dispute over ownership has arisen between Korean and Japanese temples regarding a Goryeo Dynasty Buddhist statue that Korean thieves brought into the country from Japan. The gilt-bronze seated Avalokitesvara statue, which is the subject of the court dispute, stands 50.5 cm tall and weighs 38.6 kg. It was made in the early 14th century at Buseoksa Temple but is believed to have been taken to Japan during the late Goryeo or early Joseon period through plundering or sale by Japanese pirates (Wakou).

On the 15th, the Civil Division 1 of the Daejeon High Court (Chief Judge Park Seon-jun) held an appellate trial regarding the claim of ownership over the gilt-bronze seated Avalokitesvara statue that Buseoksa Temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism in Seosan, Chungnam, filed against the state. The statue was brought into Korea in 2016 by thieves from Kannonji Temple in Tsushima, Japan.

The case began in October 2012 when four members of a cultural property theft group, including a person named Kim, broke into Kannonji Temple in Japan and brought two Buddhist statues, including the seated Avalokitesvara statue, into Korea.

Earlier, in January 2017, the first trial court ruled in favor of Buseoksa Temple, citing several pieces of evidence including a dedication inscription, stating that "it is reasonable to view that the statue was taken by the Wakou through abnormal means." The prosecution, representing the state, appealed the decision.

Gilt-bronze Seated Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. Photo by Cultural Heritage Administration [Image source=Yonhap News]

At the appellate court hearing, Buseoksa Temple argued based on the dedication inscription on the statue stating that "the statue was made around 1330 to enshrine it at a temple in Seoju (the Goryeo-era name for Seosan)," claiming, "Since the statue was plundered by the Wakou, it should be returned to us, the original owners."

On the other hand, Tanaka Setsuryo, the chief priest of Kannonji Temple, demanded the return of the statue on the grounds of acquisitive prescription. He argued that ownership was established because the statue had been owned and managed for a long time before it was stolen. He stated, "The essence of this case is that the statue was illegally brought into Korea. The statue was openly and clearly owned by us in Japan for nearly 500 years until it was stolen, so under both Japanese and Korean law, our ownership is established."

In response, Buseoksa Temple questioned the legitimacy of Kannonji Temple's acquisition of the statue. When Buseoksa asked, "Are there any documents or records regarding how the chief priest legally acquired the statue in Japan during the Joseon Dynasty?" Tanaka replied, "I will go back and look for them."

The next trial is scheduled for August 17 at 2 p.m.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.