A painting of Bodhisattva has just been returned to the Tam Thai Pagoda in the central city of Da Nang after being held in a Japanese temple for four centuries.
Known as the Avalo-kitesvara Scroll, the painting was brought to Japan by a Chaya family ship 400 years ago and had been preserved as a national treasure at the Jomyo Temple in Japan’s Nagoya City.
It is said that the painting was given to a Japanese trader, Araki Sataro of Chaya, by Lord Nguyen Phuc Nguyen who ruled the southern part of Vietnam between 1614 and 1635.
The painting was returned to the Tam Thai Pagoda on February 23 when a group of monks from Jomyo Temple visited Danang.
According to Japanese monk Hayashi Kyoichy, Head of the Jomyo Temple, the return of the painting to the pagoda exemplified the close and long-lasting relationship between the two countries.
Tam Thai is located on Thuy Son Mountain, 13km from Danang. The pagoda was built in 1630 at a time when the coastal city of Hoi An had just been established as a trade centre.
The pagoda has a stele recording the contributions made by Japanese traders in the construction of local pagodas.
The Jomyo Temple also possesses a painting which depicts activities of Japanese traders in Hoi An at the beginning of the 17th century. This water-colour painting measures 78cm by 498cm.