Buddhist Painting in Daegwangmyeongjeon Hall of Tongdosa Temple (Buddha Triad)

This is a samsinbudo, a painting of the Trikaya, or Three Bodies of Buddha, depicting Vairocana, Rocana and Sakyamuni Buddhas. Painted in colour on silk measuring 3.15 m wide and 4.6 m high, it consists of three panels, with Vairocana Buddha as the principal figure in the centre, Rocana Buddha to his left and Sakyamuni Buddha to his right. The principal figure, Vairocana, wears robes covering both shoulders and forms the jigwonin mudra, a hand gesture symbolising the oneness of Buddha and sentient beings. Rocana Buddha, likewise robed over both shoulders, holds both hands raised in the gesture of preaching the dharma and wears a jewelled crown. Sakyamuni, to the principal figure's right, wears robes over only the left shoulder and forms the hangmachokjiin mudra, the earth-touching gesture symbolising the subjugation of demons. Below Rocana and Sakyamuni are two heavenly kings each, so that the overall composition shows the Four Heavenly Kings guarding the Three Bodies of Buddha. The painting was made in 1759, the 35th year of King Yeongjo, by the monk-painters Imhan, Hayun and others. Whereas the Three Bodies of Buddha were usually represented in the Joseon period as Sakyamuni, Amitabha and Bhaisajyaguru, this painting is a rare example depicting them instead as Vairocana, Rocana and Sakyamuni, making it a work of great importance both in art history and in the history of Korean Buddhism.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yangsan, Gyeongnam

Designation

Treasure · 보물