NEWS

180 Artifacts Discovered in Ancient Statue of the Bodhisattva Manjushri

By BD Dipananda | | Buddhistdoor Global

A team of experts from Nara National University has discovered about 180 artifacts inside a centuries-old statue of bodhisattva Manjushri, known as Monju Bosatsu in Japan. The statue, which stands just 73 centimetre tall, is thought to be more than 700 years old. The statue is usually be housed at the temple of Hokke-ji in the capital of Japan’s Nara Prefecture, but is currently on display at Nara National Museum until 27 May. Officials from Nara National Museum found a hollow space the length of the statue when they used a CT scanner to examint the sculpture’s interior. The team discovered around 30 items in the head and some 150 objects stuffed into the body, including scrolls and what appear to be relics. The researchers were granted permission to examine the statue on the condition that they did not damage it or any of the items they might discover. “In terms of the artifacts inside, the statue is really special,” said Shigeki Iwata, special research chair at Nara National Museum. “The discovery is historically valuable and has increased its value as a cultural asset.” (Newsweek)