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The Diplomat
4 days ago
- General
- The Diplomat
The Bodhisattva and the Shrine: Cultural Repatriation and Diplomacy in Japan-South Korea Relations
Unresolved colonial histories and collective traumas continue to shape relations in East Asia through significant historical objects.A 14th-century gilt bronze statue of Kanzeon Bodhisattva was recently returned to Japan from South Korea, following a prolonged legal battle between the two countries over current ownership. The statue had been stolen from Japan's Kannon Temple in 2012 – but South Korea's Buseok Temple claimed to be its rightful owner, pointing out it had only made its way to Japan after being stolen from Korea centuries before. A 2023 court decision, which overturned a previous ruling in favor of Buseok Temple, stated that Kannon Temple had gained legal ownership of the statue through adverse possession. The judgment sparked backlash among Koreans who viewed it as rewarding historical theft. The international movement in favor of returning stolen cultural heritage is gaining momentum. While the pace of restitution remains uneven, governments, museums, and even private actors are increasingly responding. However, the return of looted artifacts is not just about righting historical wrongs; it is also a measure of cultural diplomacy and soft power. In this emerging landscape, the choices made by states and nonstate actors reveal what kind of long-term global values they seek to project. While many of the most widely known cases of stolen art persist in Europe, unresolved colonial histories and collective traumas continue to shape relations in East Asia through significant historical objects, such as the contested Bodhisattva statue, which is now housed at the Tsushima Museum. But not all repatriations have followed this uncertain path. South Korea recently welcomed back Gwanwoldang, a Joseon-era royal shrine building, which had stood in Japan for the last century. Choi Eung-chon, head of the Korean Heritage Service, praised the development as 'an exemplary case that actualizes the values of mutual respect and empathy through cultural heritage.' He added, 'We hope it will become a symbol of cultural solidarity and future-oriented cooperation between Korea and Japan.' The shrine was transported to Japan in 1924, during Japan's colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula. Though bilateral talks to give the shrine back to South Korea began in 2010, the handover gathered momentum once Japanese archaeologist and ethnologist Sato Takao stepped in with his full support after becoming chief priest of Kotoku-in Temple, where the shrine had been moved in the 1930s. Despite facing pressure from right-wing Japanese nationalists, Sato advocated for the return of Gwanwoldang throughout negotiations, citing both the shrine's historical origins and preservation benefits. He also personally financed the meticulous dismantling and transport of the structure. According to Sato, 'It is a global trend to return cultural heritage taken out during the imperialist era. What matters is the mindset.' Such examples of progressive leadership remain rare in the realm of repatriation, even while countries and communities increasingly demand accountability that goes beyond symbolic gestures. Museums and governments often refuse the repatriation of artifacts, for reasons ranging from conservation to 'universal' platforming, and legal ownership. By contrast, Sato's proactive repatriation demonstrates how nonstate actors can swiftly facilitate relationships and soft power through ethical choices that lay the groundwork for lasting diplomatic bridges and regional trust. Recovering such objects – whether seized, purchased, or gifted – typically relies on political will and legal channels, often straining diplomatic efforts during years of stalled negotiations. This can discourage diplomatic relations on other fronts, as potential allies become locked into avoidable ethical stalemates. With East Asia already heavy with colonial histories and implications, repatriation is a relatively accessible – if largely neglected – tool for geopolitical strategy. The case of the Bodhisattva statue exemplifies a fractured moment in Japan-South Korea relations, marked by theft on both sides as well as international norms that sidestep deeper issues of colonialism and imperialism. While ongoing battles for artifacts continue under comparable constraints throughout the world, Japan and South Korea also share heritage diplomacy successes that can serve as a model for such disputes. The Gwanwoldang shrine – currently in storage in Paju, South Korea and awaiting restoration – is an example of how artifacts of significance can not only be given back with mutual dignity and even admiration between actors, but how they can fuel further exchanges that would have been unlikely beforehand. During the official ceremony at the National Palace Museum in Seoul, Sato announced to the audience, 'We will discuss ways to raise a 100-million yen fund to support academic exchanges on Korean and Japanese cultural heritage and donate it to the Overseas Material Cultural Heritage Foundation. It took 24 years to completely return the Gwanwoldang to Korea. I'm proud to finish something important.'
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
South Korea mobilising 'all resources' for violence-free Yoon verdict
South Korean police will mobilise "all available resources" to prevent violence when a court rules Friday on the fate of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, with top tourist sites to close and embassies warning citizens to stay away. The country's Constitutional Court will issue a ruling on whether to strip Yoon of office over his abortive declaration of martial law, which has already seen him suspended by lawmakers and arrested on insurrection charges. The court in downtown Seoul has become a flashpoint, with near-constant protests in the area until the police moved Tuesday to seal the streets to head off possible clashes. "The situation has become more grave than ever," Lee Ho-young, acting chief of the Korean National Police Agency, said Wednesday. Hundreds of thousands of people for and against Yoon have poured onto Seoul's streets every weekend, with die-hards on each side also setting up tent camps and staging all-night protests. Police are concerned that whatever verdict is announced, some people "may become agitated and engage in extreme or violent protests", said Lee during a meeting with top police officials. Yoon's supporters stormed a court building in January after a judge extended the suspended president's detention. He was later released from custody on procedural grounds. "The police will mobilise all available resources to ensure the safety of the public and to prevent the situation from escalating into serious social conflict," said Lee. In Seoul, more than 14,000 riot police will be deployed. More than a dozen nearby schools and several shops in the neighbourhood will close on the day of the verdict due to safety issues. Major tourist sites such as the Gyeongbok and Changdeok palaces -- walking distances from the court -- will also be shuttered, the Korean Heritage Service said. - 'Do not participate' - The Chinese embassy in Seoul warned its nationals to keep away from local political protests. "Do not participate, do not linger, do not watch," it posted on its social media channels. "Do not publicly express or forward political comments, and try to avoid verbal or physical confrontations with local people." The US embassy, meanwhile, warned its citizens to "avoid areas where demonstrations are taking place, and exercise caution in the vicinity of any large crowds, gatherings, protests, or rallies". Acting President Han Duck-soo urged political leaders to refrain from making remarks that could incite or encourage illegal protests or violence. "Regardless of the outcome, we must calmly and rationally accept the court's decision," he said during a meeting with ministry officials. "Now is a time to prioritise the stability and survival of our community over political advantages or disadvantages," he said. If Yoon is stripped of office by the court, it will trigger elections which must be held within 60 days. hs/ceb/fox
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Find Surprising Bathroom Fixture at Ancient Site
Archaeologists excavating the site of a former palace discovered a surprising bathroom fixture, the Korean Heritage Service announced in a statement. Researchers scouring a site in Korea, which was formerly a royal palace, discovered a flush toilet dating back 1,300 years and was reportedly used by the region's prince. "These flush toilets are the first of their kind," Kim Gyeong Yeol, an archaeologist with the service, explained to Live Science. 'They wouldn't have worked like modern-day flushing toilets do; rather, someone, a servant perhaps, would have poured water into them to allow them to flush. The water would have then carried the waste through a drain that emptied out at the end.' Kim added that the fixture, which was used by the prince and the women closest to him, was hooked up to a device which "directly discharge[d] human waste into the river through a drain." "That [it] directly discharges it into the river seems to have a hierarchical meaning," the archaeologist mused. The kingdom, dubbed 'Donggung' or 'Crown Prince,' was erected in 674 A.D. during the first chapters of the country's "unified Silla" period, which dated from around 668 A.D. to 935 A.D. This most recent excavation is just the latest in a long series of searches conducted on the grounds. Previous expeditions have revealed 26 buildings to date, as well as a wealth of artifacts such as bowls, plates, and bricks decorated with a flower early flush toilets are the earliest known examples of such an invention in Korea, but they were used in other countries prior to 674 A.D. According to a 2016 study, Pakistan introduced flush toilets sometime between 2,600 B.C. and 1900 B.C., around the time the Egyptian pyramids were being built. These toilets were connected to drains, which emptied into a more advanced sewage system closer to those in use today. In 2021, scientists excavating a site in Jerusalem found a 2,700-year-old private toilet standing above a septic tank. The fixture was carved in limestone and used exclusively by 'rich people,' according to researchers.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
1,300-year-old royal flush toilet used by crown prince discovered at palace in Korea
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Archaeologists in Korea have uncovered the remains of multiple flushing toilets within a 1,300-year-old palace complex. But there was one "throne" to rule them all: The crown prince got a special toilet that drained directly into a nearby river. The existence of the palace complex has long been known, but new excavations are revealing more about it, including the discovery of the flush toilets. "These flush toilets are the first of their kind," at least in Korea, Kim Gyeong Yeol, an archaeologist with the Korean Heritage Service who led excavations at the site, told Live Science in an email. They wouldn't have worked like modern-day flushing toilets do; rather, someone, a servant perhaps, would have poured water into them to allow them to flush. The water would have then carried the waste through a drain that emptied out at the end. Related: 2,400-year-old flush toilet unearthed in China could be one of the world's oldest One of the toilets, found within the remains of the palace itself, "directly discharges human waste into the river through a drain," Kim said. Other flush toilets, found outside the palace in nearby structures, stored the human waste inside them, like how an outhouse works. The toilet "that directly discharges it into the river seems to have a hierarchical meaning," Kim said. This particular toilet may have been used by the crown prince and the court ladies closest to him, Kim said. The name "Donggung" palace means "crown prince," Kim said. It was built in A.D. 674 along with a pond called "Woji Pond," according to the Korean Heritage Service. It was built at the start of what historians call the "unified Silla" period, from roughly A.D. 668 to 935, when the Kingdom of Silla ruled much of the Korean Peninsula. Previous excavations have uncovered the remains of at least 26 buildings at the site, as well as numerous artifacts including bowls, plates and flower-patterned bricks, the heritage service noted. Image 1 of 2 The crown prince's toilet drained into a river. Image 2 of 2 This photo shows part of the 1,300-year-old Donggung Palace in Korea. RELATED STORIES —Who invented the toilet? —What did people use before toilet paper was invented? —A rare 2,700-year-old luxury toilet found in Jerusalem While a first for Korea, these flush toilets are not the first ones invented. The Indus Valley Civilization, based in what is now Pakistan, had cities with flush toilets, a team of researchers wrote in a 2016 paper. This civilization flourished between 2600 and 1900 B.C., around the time when pyramids were being built in Egypt. The flush toilets in the Indus Valley put the waste into a series of drains that emptied out in a sewage system, the paper reported. The English, who are sometimes credited with inventing the first modern flush toilets, didn't develop flush toilets until much later. Sir John Harrington invented a device in 1596 for Queen Elizabeth I "that released wastes into cesspools, an early version of the modern-day toilets," the team noted in the study. However, it lacked an S-bend, meaning that smells could have wafted back into the room, and took 7.5 gallons (28 liters) of water to flush.
