The first discovered Taegukgi from the Japanese colonial period found in a domestic temple, the only case featuring the Taeguk and four trigrams on a Rising Sun flag background... holds great symbolic significance in the history of the anti-Japanese movement
On July 22nd, a Treasure Designation Survey was conducted at Hamwoldang, Jingwansa Temple, by the Cultural Heritage Administration's Tangible Cultural Heritage Division, Cultural Heritage Committee members, and expert committee members.
[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Eunpyeong-gu (District Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) announced on the 25th that the ‘Jingwansa Taegukgi’ has been designated as National Treasure No. 2142.
The Jingwansa Taegukgi was designated as a nationally designated cultural property (treasure) on October 14th after a field survey by the Cultural Heritage Administration in July, the 4th review by the Movable Cultural Heritage Subcommittee in August, a 30-day public notice period, and the final review by the 5th Movable Cultural Heritage Subcommittee of the Cultural Heritage Administration.
The Jingwansa Taegukgi is the first Taegukgi discovered in a Korean Buddhist temple from the Japanese colonial period. It demonstrates that Buddhist temples at the time played an important role as bases for the independence movement. The flag, painted over the Japanese rising sun flag background with ink to depict the Taeguk and four trigrams, strongly embodies the spirit of resistance against Japan. Its design and production style are identical to the national flag established by the Provisional Government’s State Council in 1942. Since there are few Taegukgi made in 1919 today, it is recognized as a precious resource that can clarify the history and meaning of the national flag, thus holding historical and academic value.
The Jingwansa Taegukgi was discovered on May 26, 2009, during the dismantling and restoration of the Chilseonggak Hall at Jingwansa, along with 20 items including editions of the Independence Newspaper published between June and December 1919, marking the 90th anniversary of the March 1st Movement and the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai. At the time of discovery, the independence movement materials wrapped in the Taegukgi collectively maintained their status as Registered Cultural Property No. 458 (designated on February 25, 2010), and have now been elevated to treasure status.
Academia strongly suspects that the person who hid the Taegukgi in the Chilseonggak Hall was Ven. Baek Chowol (1878?1944), a monk of Jingwansa. Ven. Baek Chowol was a key figure in the Buddhist independence movement, publishing the Innovation Gazette immediately after the March 1st Movement to inspire independence awareness, raising military funds, and sending them to the Shanghai Provisional Government and Manchurian independence army.
Ven. Gyeho, head monk of Jingwansa, stated, “We are very pleased and grateful that the Jingwansa Taegukgi has been designated as a treasure. We plan to utilize this cultural asset in various ways such as exhibitions, education, and experiences to further promote the value of our cultural heritage and to spread the public’s love for the country.”
Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, said, “We are very proud that the Jingwansa Taegukgi, which embodies the noble spirit of independence activists who sought to reclaim their homeland during the harsh trials of the Japanese colonial period, has been designated as a treasure. As the fifth national treasure of Eunpyeong-gu, the Jingwansa Taegukgi is an important resource in modern Korean history, and we will continue to provide unwavering support for the preservation, succession, and development of our cultural heritage.”
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