Painting of Amitabha Buddha Triad

A painting of the Amitabha triad with Avalokitesvara and Ksitigarbha beside Amitabha, 51 cm wide and 110 cm high. Amitabha, the Buddha who cares for beings and leads them to paradise, is usually attended by Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta; here Ksitigarbha takes Mahasthamaprapta's place, which is very unusual. Amitabha looks at a person reborn in paradise at the bottom of the picture and shines light upon them; Ksitigarbha stands on the right holding a jewel in the right hand. Avalokitesvara comes forward in front of Amitabha, bending slightly at the waist and holding a lotus pedestal on the hands, and the lines drawn in gold harmonise with the brilliant red and green of the robes. The painting is read in two ways: as a welcoming scene, in which one devoted to invoking the Buddha is led to paradise by Amitabha, or as a scene of prediction, confirming that one reborn in paradise will become a Buddha. Thought to date from late Goryeo, it has a distinctive form: Ksitigarbha in place of Mahasthamaprapta, Avalokitesvara in front of Amitabha, and the person reborn picked out by light. Its lavish colour with gold and its refined faces show unprecedented skill, making it a very precious work.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Designation

National Treasure · 국보