The Association of Korean Buddhist Orders (Chairman: Most Ven. Jinwoo, President of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism), the Buddhist Association of China, and the Japan-China-Korea International Buddhist Exchange Council held a Dharma assembly to pray for world peace on October 21 at Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju as part of the 26th Korea-China-Japan Buddhist Friendship Exchange Conference. The ceremony was attended by approximately 200 representatives from the three countries, including Chairman Most Ven. Jinwoo, Ven. Shi Yanjue, Chairman of the Buddhist Association of China, and Ven. Take Kakucho, Chairman of the Japan-China-Korea International Buddhist Exchange Council.

In his message praying for world peace, Most Ven. Jinwoo, Chairman of the Association of Korean Buddhist Orders, emphasized, “The Buddhist communities of our three nations wish to be united in our vows to heal the hearts of modern people and open the door to hope for the future,” adding, “The deep trust and friendship among our three nations will serve as a steadfast beacon guiding peaceful coexistence in East Asia across national borders.”

Ven. Shi Yanjue, Chairman of the Buddhist Association of China, expressed his aspirations, saying, “Buddhist practitioners from the three nations offer prayers, recite sutras, and make vows with a heart of boundless devotion.” He continued, “May wars cease, may resentment be transformed into compassion, and may the Buddha’s light shine even brighter, so that people throughout the world may take refuge in the Three Jewels together, the Wheel of Dharma may turn eternally, and Buddhist practitioners may attain enlightenment.”

Ven. Take Kakucho, Chairman of the Japan-China-Korea International Buddhist Exchange Council, emphasized in a statement praying for world peace: “We, the Buddhists of these three nations, are all children and disciples of the Buddha; joining hands, we pray for world peace, the well-being of all sentient beings, environmental conservation, and the flourishing of the Dharma.”

At the academic seminar held afterward, Buddhist leaders from Korea, China, and Japan adopted a joint declaration expressing their commitment to contributing to the coexistence and shared prosperity of humanity through mutual respect, respect for life, and the popularization of Buddhist practice amid the turbulent international situation.