Consecrating the Buddha:

On the Practice of Interring Objects (bokjang) in Buddhist Statues


Co-host (공동주최): Ewha Womans University Museum; and Humanities Korea Project, Institute for Buddhist Culture in Dongguk University



August 11th


Location: Ewha Womans University Museum Lecture Hall

(이화여자대학교박물관강당)


Registration with Coffee & Bread (8:30-9:00)



Opening Remarks (9:00-9:15)

Chair: Kim Youn-mi (김연미), Ewha Womans University


Jang Namwon (장남원), Director of Ewha Womans University Museum

Kim Jongwook (김종욱), Director of the Institute for Buddhist Culture in Dongguk University


Keynote Speech (9:15-10:00)

Professor James Robson, Harvard University

“Buddhist Images Inside Out: Why do the Contents of Statues Matter?”





Panel 1 (10:15-12:00) Transformation of Bokjang from Goryeo to Josoen


Chair: Richard McBride, Brigham Young University–Hawaii


Lee Seunghye (이승혜), Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art

“Bokjang, Consecration of Korean Buddhist Images: Issues and Further Questions”

(한국불상의腹藏의례: 쟁점과과제)


Jeong Eunwoo (정은우), Dong-a University

“Meaning and Forms of Bokjang during the Goryeo Dynasty”

(고려시대복장물의형식과의미)


Discussant: Nam Dongsin (남동신), Seoul National University


Lunch (12:00-1:30)



Panel 2 (1:30-3:00) Sutras and Bokjang



Chair: Chung Woothak (정우택), Dongguk University



Song Il-gie (송일기), Chung-Ang University

“Recent Discoveries of Bokjang Relics and their Meaning”

(최근불복장전적수습사례와그의의)



Kang Heejung (강희정), Sogang University

“Bokjang: The Breath that Enlivens the Buddha’s Body”

(복장: 불신에불어넣은생명의숨)



Discussant, Kim Young Mi (김영미) Ewha Womans University





Panel 3 (3:15-4:45) Bokjang Ritual for Buddhist Painting



Chair: Jeehee Hong, McGill University



Lee Yong-yun (이용윤), Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism Headquarters

“A Study of Bokjang in Buddhist Paintings of the Late Joseon Period”

(조선후기불화의복장연구)



Lee Seonyong (이선용), Korea National University of Cultural Heritage

“Bokjang Ritual and Buddhist Painting”

(복장의식과불화)


Discussant, Kim Junghee (김정희) Wonkwang University




*******************************

August 12th



Location: Ewha Womans University Museum Lecture Hall



Coffee & Bread (9:00-9:30)





Panel 4 (9:30-11:30) Bokjang in Other Contexts



Chair: Tracy Miller, Vanderbilt University



Hank Glassman, Haverford College

“Stupas inside Statues: Esoteric Buddhism and Image Consecration in Medieval Japan”



Akiko Walley, University of Oregon

“Sheltered by the Buddha: Buried Objects under the Great Buddha of Todaiji as Tainai Nōnyūhin”



Maya Stiller, University of Kansas

“Amitābha Triads Concealed in Craggy Cliffs: An Analysis of Sculpture Burial in Premodern Korea”



Discussant Rhi Juhyung (이주형), Seoul National University



Lunch (11:30-1:00)



Panel 5 (1:00-2:30) Textile, Tombs & Bokjang



Chair: Richard McBride, Brigham Young University–Hawaii



Song Mi Kyung (송미경), Seoul Women’s University

“Buddhist Influence on Clothing Used for the Joseon-dynasty Burial”

(조선시대출토복식에보이는불교의영향)



Sim Yeon Ok (심연옥), Korea National University of Cultural Heritage

“Textile from a Seated Gilt Bronze Medicine Buddha in Janggok Temple”

(장곡사금동약사여래좌상복장직물)


Discussant: Choi Sun-ah (최선아), Myongji University



2:45-3:00pm,

Screening of “Secret Ritual” documentary by BTN



3:00-3:45pm

Q&A with the monk Gyeongam (Bokjang Ritual Specialist)




Closing Remarks (3:45–4:30pm)

Prof. Bernard Faure, Columbia University