The Museum of Buddhist Holy Relics of Woljeongsa

[Curator]

Among the 20 dharma halls of Woljeongsa, there is one must-see place; that is, the Museum of Buddhist Holy Relics.

Three exhibition halls feature various Buddhist cultural relics in the theme of the three jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, who are the monks or nuns. The Seongbo Museum of Buddhist Holy Relics is the biggest museum for Buddhist holy relics in the country, housing over 600 articles from Sangwonsa Jungchang Kwonseonmun, the Documents of Sangwonsa Temple; the 12 sariras, the Buddha relics; the Octagonal Nine-story Stone Pagoda; the relics from the belly of the Manjusri Child figure in Sangwonsa; the tangible cultural assets of Gangwon-do Province; and finally Buddhist paintings and statues of the late Joseon Dynasty period.

Among the many articles housed here, the Octagonal Nine-story Stone Pagoda, Jungchang Kwonseonmun, the Documents of Sangwonsa Temple, the Stone Seated Bodhisattva of Woljeongsa, and the Wooden Seated Child Manjusri were designated as national treasures. The Documents of Sangwonsa Temple are particularly well-known as being the oldest existing Korean transcription completed by hand.