Wooden Amitabha Buddha Altarpiece of Gyeongguksa Temple, Seoul

The Wooden Amitabha Buddha Altarpiece of Gyeongguksa Temple, Seoul, is a Joseon-period mokgaktaeng, a wooden relief altarpiece carved to resemble a painted Buddhist hanging, enshrined in the Geungnakjeon Hall of Gyeongguksa Temple in Jeongneung-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul; it comprises a total of thirteen figures of buddhas and bodhisattvas centred on the Amitabha Buddha. At the centre, the Amitabha Buddha sits on a multi-tiered pedestal against a large aureole. The head is covered in small snail-shell-shaped curls, and the broad, flat face reflects the stylised, formalised features characteristic of late Joseon Buddhist sculpture. The body is slight in proportion to the face, and the robe draped over both shoulders is so thick that the outline of the body is barely visible. The aureole, representing the light radiating from the Buddha's body, has the same width top and bottom, a form distinctive to the Joseon period. Flame patterns rise and spread upward within it, with small Buddha figures depicted inside them. To the left and right of the principal image are the Eight Great Bodhisattvas of Amitabha, and below them, on either side, are Virudhaka and Dhrtarastra, two of the Four Heavenly Kings. All of the Eight Great Bodhisattvas except Ksitigarbha wear crowns on their heads; they are dressed in thick robes, hold lotus flowers, and stand on fully bloomed lotus blossoms. Bodhisattvas stand at the same height as the principal image, and a single arhat figure stands at each outer side. Overall, the carving technique is simple and the sense of volume restrained, giving the work a plain, understated beauty. This piece is valued as a precious example of the few surviving late Joseon wooden relief altarpieces.

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Where it is

Region

Seongbuk-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물