Wando-gun Designates Birthday Hakseoam Stone Seated Buddha Statue as Local Cultural Heritage

Published 18 Apr.2023 14:21(KST)

Three New Designations Including Gogeum Suhyosa, Chimhyang 3 Buddha Statues

Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 18th that it has newly designated the Seokjo Yeorae Jwasang at Saengil Hakseoam, the three incense sandalwood Buddha statues at Sugyo Temple in Gogeum, and the shrine of Master Hwang Chan in Yaksan as tangible cultural heritage of Wando-gun’s local cultural assets.

The three cultural heritages were reviewed and approved by a total of 10 committee members, including Chairman Kang Seong-woon (Deputy Governor of Wando-gun), at the Local Cultural Heritage Designation Review Committee held on the 27th of last month. After a 15-day public notice period, they were officially designated and announced on the 14th.

Three Incense Buddha Statues from Gogum Suhyosa [Photo by Wando-gun]

The Seokjo Yeorae Jwasang at Saengil Hakseoam is 45.8 cm tall and enshrined inside Imgyeongdang. Buddhist relics were found inside the statue, and there are historical records indicating it was created in the late 17th century at Songgwangsa Temple in Suncheon.

The overall style represents a typical Buddha statue from the late Joseon Dynasty, and the relics found inside have documentary value, leading to its designation as Wando-gun Local Cultural Heritage No. 21.

The three incense sandalwood Buddha statues at Sugyo Temple in Gogeum?Maitreya Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, and Medicine Buddha?are enshrined in the Geukrakbojeon Hall. The camphor wood, which was buried in the mudflats during the Goryeo to Joseon period, was excavated in 2011 and crafted into their current form in 2017.

The three incense sandalwood Buddha statues serve as important empirical evidence and materials for studying the Maehyang (ritual of burying Buddha statues), and have value as historical and cultural tourism resources in the region, thus designated as Wando-gun Local Cultural Heritage No. 22.

The shrine of Master Hwang Chan in Yaksan commemorates Master Hwang Chan (1850?1890), who established a Seodang (village school) in Cheondong in 1880 and taught students from Yaksan and Gogeum. This Seodang was the first educational facility in Yaksan.

Due to the historical and educational value of Master Hwang and the Seodang he established, the shrine dedicated to honoring and memorializing him was designated as Wando-gun Local Cultural Heritage No. 23.

A county official stated, “We will systematically manage and preserve the precious cultural heritage located in our county and widely promote its value.”

Currently, Wando-gun has a total of 24 designated local cultural heritages, including 23 tangible cultural heritages and 1 intangible cultural heritage.