Manifesto of the $HDAO Initiator
In the Far East, there is a peninsula that is smaller than England and even smaller than New Zealand. The people of this nation have a history of 4,500 years. In the beginning of the 20th century, the sovereignty of the country was completely taken away by its neighboring country, and after 35 years of unprecedented colonial rule, it was liberated with the end of World War II. However, just after five years, a conflict between the left and the right led to an international all-out war, and it suffered a horrific tragedy in which millions of people were sacrificed.
After receiving help from 16 countries through the intervention of the United Nations, a ceasefire was reached after three years, and they have been living in a state of division into North and South up until now. The South, which was one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world, was recognized as one of the forefront nations by UNCTAD merely 70 years after the war. This is the only country in the world that declared independence after World War 2 and elevated its status from the underdeveloped to the forefront.
The very country is Korea.
Kim Gu, also known by his pen name Baekbeom (백범, 白凡 meaning ordinary person), led the government in exile in a country that had been deprived of sovereignty in the first half of the 20th century and directed the independence movement. He said in his journal: “I want my country to be the most beautiful country in the world. Buoyancy is enough to make our lives affluent, and strength is enough to prevent aggression from others.
If there is one thing that I want, it is the power of culture, because culture brings us happiness and, in turn, it brings happiness to others.” He was one of the most respected and influential figures during the time, but he was assassinated by his opponents. It seems that his wish has now come true after 8–90 years. Today, in various cultural fields, the ‘Korean Wave | Hallyu’ is loved by people around the globe, and Korea has become a powerhouse of soft power.
Hyung-pil Chun (1906–1962), better known by his pen name Kansong, had collected, preserved, and protected Korean cultural assets during the colonial rule, and established Korea’s first private art museum after the liberation. Two (2) National Treasures certified by the state from his collection were consigned to an art auction house known as the K Auction.
Although these are Buddhist art works, these icons were not objects of mere appreciation, but objects of worship for its believers. It was made convenient to carry around so that the worshippers could worship anytime, anywhere, and that they could protect themselves for it is widely believed that the statue of Buddha protects its worshippers from a calamity like a Christian cross or a pallet for Muslim prayers.
If you look at the writing on the back of the 계미명금동일광삼존불입상 (Gilt-bronze Standing Buddha Triad with Inscription of “Gyemi Year”), you can see that it was made and dedicated 1,459 years ago by a person named Bohwa to his deceased father. With limited documentation, one can only imagine whether Bohwa was a woman or a man.
금동삼존불감 (Gilt-bronze Triad) is an elaborate miniature modeled after the main sanctuary of a temple that enshrines the Buddha and the Bodhisattva.
But what is certain is that they reflect the intrinsic values of human empathy, love, and goodwill which transcends all nations, religions, and ideologies.
Now in this decentralized world, hyper-connection, participation, and solidarity are achieved in the most independent, autonomous and democratic way than ever before. $HDAO seeks to reach out and connect with the nonmaterial individuals, advocates, philanthropists and innovators that hone the cultural values of the heritages. That is the meaning behind the symbol of $HDAO.
In relation to this cultural heritage which has reached its peak, the responsibility for its preservation and the privilege of enjoyment cannot be and should not be limited to just a select few.
The new generation has entered the era of the sharing economy.
Neoclassical economics of the past is practically dead, and we have entered the age of sacred economics. In this harshly unprecedented era of order restructuring, the meaning of the digital economy must be newly defined.
From now on, in the case of cultural heritage, all processes of collecting, protecting, sharing and enjoying will be done by the people for the people. The highest excellence (supremacy) does not merely mean monetary value or exchange value.
For example, the products of modernist innovations inspired by the so-called primitive art of Africa and Central America in the first half of the 20th century, such as Picasso’s <Les Demoiselles d’Avignon>, have priceless value. On the other hand, the mask that has been used in a ritual performed by a tribe until the present time in a remote area of Africa today has a priceless and incalculable value.
They are the essence of human cultural heritage. Heritage DAO ($HDAO) as a collective whole, is to protect, collect, share and enjoy the essence of cultural heritage, covering both monetary and non-monetary aspects in all ages throughout the world.
In solidarity with those in interest, we vehemently oppose the tragic incidents of vandalism, such as the destruction of the Bamiyan stone Buddha in the Middle East and Central Asia in the last century, and will contribute to its restoration in the future.
