NEWS
Return of Goryeo Bronze Buddhist Niche The National Museum of Korea acquired a Goryeo period bronze Buddhist niche donated by the Young Friends of the Museum (YFM), an organization of young people affiliated with the Friends of the National Museum of Korea (FNMK). The small, portable niche made of bronze was used for worship in places other than the temple. Such small metal niches, sometimes found enshrined in pagodas, were mainly produced between the late Goryeo and early Joseon periods. Around 15 examples remain extant. Portable Buddhist niches can be divided into two kinds: the pavilion-shaped niche consisting of square casket with roof-shaped lid and the square casket niche without a lid. The bronze Buddhist niche obtained by the YFM from an antique shop in Japan is of the 34 NMK
latter type, which is rare among the extant examples. The niche is estimated to have been produced in the late 14th century during the Goryeo Dynasty, which makes it all the more valuable. The most outstanding feature of the niche is the scene of Shakyamuni preaching, depicted on the inside using the repousse technique. The doors of the niche, decorated with images of Vajrapani, open onto the scene of Buddha preaching a sermon, created on a thin sheet of metal attached to the back of the casket. Shakyamuni sits in the center flanked by attendant bodhisattvas and surrounded by ten arhats and the eight classes of dharma protectors. As the only bronze Buddhist niche from the Goryeo period decorated with the eight classes of dharma protectors, it is
