Monk copies Avatamska Sutras in gold dust

Buddhist monk Won Eung, 66, of Pyoksong Temple on Mt. Chiri recently completed his decade-long effort to copy the 600,000 letters of the Avatamska Sutras in gold dust. Pyoksong Temple is located near the Chilsun Valley next to Mt. Chiri.

The monk said he was shocked that the remains of human bodies were discovered from time to time near the temple, which was used by the North Korean army as a field hospital during the Korean War, and began to copy the sutras to pray for the souls of the dead and overcome the pain of national division through the Buddha’s divine protection.

The copied sutras will be displayed in the Calligraphy Hall at the Seoul Arts Center in Socho-dong from Feb. 27 to March 5.

Song Pyoung-In pisong@donga.com