Mayor Choi: 'A meaningful achievement that elevates Namyangju's historical and cultural value'
Namyangju held a ceremony Wednesday at Bongseongsa Temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism to mark the elevation of the Bongseongsa Bronze Bell to national treasure status.
The event was organized to celebrate the bell's designation as a national treasure on April 23 and to raise public awareness of the cultural heritage's historical significance.
Namyangju Mayor Choi Hyeon-deok attended alongside Cultural Heritage Administration Commissioner Heo Min, representatives of the Jogye Order, officials from Gyeonggi Province and the city, and local residents, all gathering to mark the occasion as the city's first national treasure.
The ceremony opened with a formal declaration, followed by a Buddhist ritual, introductions of guests, welcoming remarks and congratulatory speeches. Commissioner Heo presented the national treasure designation certificate to Bongseongsa's head monk, Hosan, adding further significance to the occasion.
The Namyangju Bongseongsa Bronze Bell was cast in 1469 at the order of Yejong, the eighth king of the Joseon Dynasty, to pray for the repose of his predecessor, King Sejo, and was enshrined at Bongseongsa. Designated a treasure in 1963, the bell was elevated to national treasure status 63 years later on April 23 this year, becoming the first national treasure in Namyangju's history.
The bell is the only large bronze bell commissioned by the early Joseon royal court that remains in its original place of enshrinement. Its excellent state of preservation and outstanding historical and artistic value have established it as a representative cultural heritage piece illustrating the bronze bell tradition of the Joseon period.
"The elevation of the Bongseongsa Bronze Bell to national treasure status is a meaningful achievement that raises the historical and cultural value of Namyangju," Mayor Choi said. "We will continue to share the historical significance of our cultural heritage with residents and work to preserve and pass down these precious legacies."
pjh@heraldcorp.com
