Mummy Buddha awaits its destiny

1. Dutch collector: Mummified Buddha will return to China

2. Why return of mummified Buddha matters

3. Officials urged to take lead in Buddha's retrieval

4. China certain 'mummy Buddha' was stolen one

5. .Villagers write to Dutch collector to return stolen Buddha

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The statue is hailed as Patriarch Zhanggong, a local man who became a monk in his 20s and won fame for treating disease and spreading Buddhist beliefs. When he died at 37, his body was mummified and made into a statue during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The statue has been worshipped in the village temple ever since.

Experts' view

Internet buzz 

-- Xie Caifeng, legal researcher with the Shunyi District People’s court in Beijing.

The statues look alike and both have marks on the hands and the stomach. The words written on the exhibited statue's cushion are the same as those on the lost statue.

-- Chen Qizhong, director of the Datian County Museum in Fujian province

Based on photos, local archives and witness statements, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH) can confirm that this Buddha statue was stolen from the Fujian village.

-- Jin Ruiguo, an SACH official

These artifacts should return to their origin. They should be viewed in their country of origin because they are part of the identity of the culture.

Gene (China)

Not all artifacts should be returned to source countries. More people can learn about and appreciate the artifacts if they are spread out in museums throughout the world.

Brigid (UK)

If the country of origin can't afford to keep it in good condition they should just probably just leave it in the other country's museum.

Mariam (US)