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Kamsil (Niche) Figurines
Above the fifteen panels arranged around the walls of the main chamber are ten small niches, eight of
which contain somewhat worn figurines, approximately 2/3 or 3/4 of a meter in height, showing
beings of unknown identity seated in various poses. The two niches nearest to the rotunda are empty,
the figurines having been stolen during the colonial period and taken to Japan. Apparently, crystalline
jewels were affixed to these two figurines. When they were present, the morning light streaming into
the chamber would first strike the main statue and then, refracted by the jewel in the center of its
forehead and again by the jewels held by these two niche statuettes, bathe the Kwanum Boddhisattva
that would otherwise be left in shadow.
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