The Washington herald., 1907-05-23
P'UNG DUK IS STOLEN
Korean National Shrine Dis
appears from Seoul.
MARBLE PAG0DA REMOVED
japanese Accused of Committing
Outrage After Unusual Request
Was Denied by King-Permission
10 Carry Away Famous Edifice
Obtained from Under-hireIings.

Nagasaki, May 22-For esoteric manipu-
lation and coolness of daring the latest
feat Of japanese exploitation in Korea
surpasses even the most phenomenal Of
the nations recent exhibitions Of racial
prowess Fancy so impossible an achieve
ment as the surrepttious removal Of the
Washington obelisk from the Capital.
Yet, an event OF like marvel has just
thrown the already rebelious Koreans
into a state of exasperation, and filed
with establishment every foreign resident
Of the far East A prominent japanese
nobleman has recently succeeded in alb
stracting from the Korean capitol at
Seoul one Of the most ancient and sacred
OF the nations ancestral shrines. the
beautiful white marble pagOda Of P'ung-
duk.
The details Of this incident are some
what interesting, and do not a little 70
throw light on present conditions in
Korea. In January last his eXcenency.
ViscOunt Tanaka a minister Of the i'm
perial household, was dispatched by his
imperial japanese majesty on a special
mission 70 represent the Emperor at the
marriage ceremony Of the Korean crown
prince. Il seems that while at the court
in Seoul. tie viscount expressed a desire
that the P'ung duk pagoda should be pre-
sented 20 him 10 take back as a gift 20
Japan, but the King Of Korea res0lutely
held out against the proposal. maintain
ing, Il is alleged, that so priceless mon
fFffa
belonged to the whole people OF Korea,
and could not be thus disposed Of.
Pagoda Bodily Removed.
With this expression Of disapproval on
the part Of the Korean sovereign, the
matter appeared for the time TO have
grown quiescent. It turns out, however,
that in the past few weeks the pagoda
has disappeared. AS soon as this was
TumOrcd the people crowded out to the
former site TO convince themselves Of
what otherwise would have seemed 20
them Incredible; but no trace Of the once
beautiful structure remained save the
debris Of its ancient foundations. IL had.
apparently. been taken down block by
block and bodily removed Some OF the
finest specimens of Korean sculpture had
been broken in the process Of dismantiing
and the fragments lay about in desala-
tl0n.
Inquiry among nearby inhabitants
elected the information that on the 18th
of February a force Of armed japanese
appeared at the pagoda and proceeded a.
take the building 20 pieces, the work oc-
cupying about eight days. AS soon as
sF 4l ka rIf
the marble blocks were loaded on carts,
conveyed 70 the nearest station. and
shipped by train south The only infer
cnce 20 be drawn was that the pagoda
had gone of 70 be set UP in some jap
anese park as d memorial OF the nation s
protectorate of Korea.
Underliugx Give Permit.
Recently the q leaked out. Il seems
that when the Emperor of Korea refused
20 acquiesce IN the proposal 10 present
the P'ung-duk pagoda 20 Eiscount Ia
naka, that gentleman, determined not 10
be defeated in his quest got some Korean
official 10 give a formal permission for
the removal Of the shrine; but these Off
cials. being but underlinEs of the Jap
auese authorities. and. therefore. only
of the latter. obviously could have no
authority 20 part with the property OF
the nation.
Yet it is reported that on no more valid
pretext than ,his the viscount persisted
in ordering the pagoda To be taken down
and removed TO Japan. How an accred-
tied representative Of the imperial house
hold Of Japan could thus 60 10 Korea
professedly ou a friendly mission Of con-
graduation ard good viii. and then take
advantage Of his position 90 stoop % such
am act Of vandalism. is not explained
The marble pagoda Of Seoul is mem
toned In books Of reference as one Of
the three notable things in an otherwise
poorly built city. The other two are a
Roman Catholic cathedral and a bel
tower dating from 1865 Seoul has beer
the capital of Korea since 1892