Mural Painting in Josadang Shrine of Buseoksa Temple

These paintings covered the inside walls of Josadang at Buseoksa, the hall that holds the monk Uisang, who founded the temple and began the Flower Garland school in Korea. They show the four guardian kings with Indra and Brahma, divided over six panels. They were taken off the wall under Japanese rule and are now kept separately. The earth wall was grounded in green and painted in red, white and gold. Each panel is about 205 cm by 75. The two heavenly figures at either end are aristocratic and elegant, full in their modelling; the guardian kings between them stand on demons and glare, powerfully built. Much is damaged and much was overpainted later, so a good deal of the original is gone — but the fluent, rhythmic line still carries the quality of Goryeo Buddhist painting. A record found in the building dates Josadang to 1377, and the paintings are thought to be of the same date. They are the oldest wall paintings surviving in Korea, which makes them important out of all proportion to their condition.

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Visiting

Opening hours

Open 24 hr

Closed

N/A (Open all year round)

Admission

Free

Parking

Available

Information

+82-54-633-3464

Visitor information: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1

Where it is

Region

Yeongju, Gyeongbuk

Designation

National Treasure · 국보