About 1,000 Buddhists held a ceremony in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, on Thursday to see off a holy relic they believe to be a finger of the Buddha, which is heading for South Korea to be temporarily enshrined there.

The ceremony was overseen by Master Monk Yi Cheng, president of the Buddhist Association of China, and Master Monk Sheng Hui, who is in charge of the relic while it is being transported, at Famen Temple, one of the four most sacred places in Chinese Buddhism.

Buddhists from China and South Korea paid respects to images of the Buddha and chanted sutras from Buddhist classics at the ceremony.

The relic, believed to be the finger bone of Buddhism's founder Sakyamuni, is a state treasure and is going at the invitation of the South Korean Buddhist Association.

Sheng said this was an important event in the 1,600-year history of friendly relations between China and South Korea.

Hui Cong, head of the South Korean delegation, said the enshrinement could bring South Koreans happiness and boost friendship between the two countries.

The relic will stay in South Korea until December 20.

Since it was unearthed from a secret chamber at Famen Temple in 1987, after being buried underground for nearly 1,000 years, the relic has been sent to Thailand, Taiwan and Hong Kong for enshrinement in 1994, 2002 and 2004 respectively, attracting millions of Buddhists.

(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2005)