Bronze Bell Cast by Buddhist Monk Sain - Hwagyesa Temple, Seoul

This is a Joseon-period bell, cast in 1683 by the Monk Sain, who was active in Gyeonggi and Gyeongsang provinces during the reign of King Sukjong of Joseon. The Monk Sain was an outstanding monk and craftsman of the eighteenth century who combined the traditional casting techniques of Silla bells with his own originality; eight of his works survive today, each showing its own distinctive features. This bell is distinguished by the two dragons carved on the loop from which it is hung. Wide bands encircle the bell at the shoulder and at the mouth, and on the body, square ornamental panels and, between them, decorative motifs shaped like ancestral spirit tablets are arranged in balanced fashion. It is a fine work notable for its realism and splendour, and its inscription also records that a monk of the time came to hold a gongmyeongcheop, a blank certificate of official rank sold by the state to raise funds, reflecting the social conditions of the day. This gives the bell great value both for the study of bells and as a historical source.

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Where it is

Region

Gangbuk-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물