China presented a wooden statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, or
the Dizang Buddha, to the Republic of Korea (ROK), on
Wednesday.
The statue, 1.88 meters tall, was made of Chinese juniper from
Taiwan. Religion bureau officials in the eastern Chinese province
didn't disclose its worth.
A ceremony was held on Tuesday on Anhui's Mount Jiuhua, one of
the country's four most renowned Buddhist mountains. About 120
Buddhists from the Republic of Korea (ROK) were in attendance.
The statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is related to a prince of
Silla (Korea) known as Kim Gyo Gak in his homeland. The prince
traveled to China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.) and
settled at Mount Jiuhua to practice Dharma. He passed away at 99
there. Chinese Buddhists believed Kim was an incarnation of
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.
"Kim Gyo Gak is the symbol of Sino-Korea ties," said Master
Mingsheng, vice head of the Chinese Buddhist Association. "The year
2007 marks the 15th anniversary since China and South Korea
established diplomatic relations, and this statue would further
deepen our friendship."
"Everything in the world changes, except people's hearts," said
Master Gaoshan from the ROK. "If we have peace in our hearts, the
world shall be a harmonious place."
China and the ROK established diplomatic relations in August
1992.
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(Xinhua News Agency November 22, 2007)
