Dharma Drum Mountain thus decided to return the piece. Since according to Taiwan law the import or export of important historic artifacts must be approved by the government, the relevant authorities in Taiwan (including the Straits Exchange Foundation, the Mainland Affairs Commission, the Ministry of Education, and the Council for Cultural Affairs) convened a special meeting, at which they agreed to assist in the return of the Shen Tong sculpture.
二○○二年，正值聯合國教科文組織所訂定的「文化遺產年」，包括海基會、陸委會、教育部、文建會等主管單位也特別召開協調會，同意協助送回千年佛頭的美事。