Samcheok City announced that a field inspection by related experts from the National Heritage Administration was conducted on October 19 and 20 for the designation of the ‘Seated Clay Amitabha Triad Buddha and Votive Deposits of Cheoneunsa Temple in Samcheok’—enshrined at the traditional local temple Cheoneunsa—as a National Designated Cultural Heritage ‘Treasure’.

The ‘Seated Wooden Amitabha Triad Buddha of Cheoneunsa Temple in Samcheok’, which has been preserved and managed as a Provincial Tangible Cultural Heritage, was confirmed during a votive deposit ($bokjang$) investigation conducted in 2024 to have been manufactured using clay ($sojo$) rather than wood. This inspection was promoted to reevaluate its historical, artistic, and academic value at the national level and to thoroughly review the validity of its designation as a National Designated Cultural Heritage ‘Treasure’.

The field inspection was attended by top authorities in the field of Buddhist sculpture, including cultural heritage commissioners and specialized committee members from the Movable Cultural Heritage Division of the National Heritage Administration, as well as related officials. The inspection team focused on verifying the sculptural style and preservation status of the Buddha statues, manufacturing techniques, records inside the internal votive deposits, and comparing them with temple historical records and related literature.

The ‘Seated Clay Amitabha Triad Buddha of Cheoneunsa Temple in Samcheok’ reflects the stylistic characteristics of Buddha statues created during the early Joseon Dynasty, and its value is high as the votive items placed during gilding ($gaegeum$) or repair work throughout the late Joseon Dynasty and up to the modern era remain completely intact.

Based on the results of this field inspection, the National Heritage Administration plans to comprehensively review the survey report and finally decide whether to announce the Treasure designation after deliberation by the National Heritage Committee (Movable Cultural Heritage Division). Once the designation announcement is decided, the final designation notification process will be carried out after gathering opinions from various sectors through a 30-day preview period.

An official from Samcheok City stated, "This is an important turning point where the true value of the Seated Clay Amitabha Triad Buddha and Votive Deposits of Samcheok—which has long served as the region's precious spiritual culture and historical heritage—can be nationally recognized," adding, "Moving forward, we will do our utmost in administrative support so that systematic preservation and management, as well as the promotion to a National Designated Cultural Heritage Treasure, can be smoothly completed through close communication with the National Heritage Administration and the temple."

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