16 hours ago
3D image data of Buddhist statue in Japan to be provided to S. Korea
NHK has learned a temple in Nagasaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan, will provide South Korea with three-dimensional imagery data of its Buddhist statue so that a replica can be made of it.
The statue, once stolen and taken to South Korea, was returned to the temple in May.
The statue was stolen from Kannonji Temple on Tsushima Island in 2012. It became the subject of a legal dispute over its ownership after it was found at Busuksa Temple in South Korea. It was returned to Japan after South Korea's Supreme Court ruled that it belonged to the Japanese temple.
The statue is currently kept at a museum in Tsushima City due to security concerns.
Officials of the temple and the city said they decided to provide the statue's 3D data after Busuksa Temple said it wanted to create a replica. They said the data will be taken this month.
The city and the prefecture will also consider making a replica for Kannonji Temple in line with requests from the temple's parishioners.
Former Kannonji priest Tanaka Sekko said he hopes a replica will help the supporters of the South Korean temple feel the presence of Buddha.
