Clay Four Guardian Kings of Songgwangsa Temple, Wanju

The Four Guardian Kings (Sacheonwang) are depicted in armour as dignified warrior figures who rule over the Four Heavens of the east, west, south and north. In Korea they first appear from the early Unified Silla period, and in the Joseon dynasty a separate Cheonwangmun (Gate of the Heavenly Kings) was built at the entrance to temples to house them. Facing Daeungjeon Hall, the Guardian of the East (Jiguk Cheonwang) and the Guardian of the North (Damun Cheonwang) stand to the right, while the Guardian of the South (Jeungjang Cheonwang) and the Guardian of the West (Gwangmok Cheonwang) stand to the left. At Songgwangsa Temple, the statue of the Guardian of the East raises his right elbow high to grip a sword, while his left hand, with thumb and index finger extended, is posed as if reaching for the blade's tip. The demon beside his left leg has removed its upper garment, wears trousers, and has a thick cord slung from its right shoulder across to its left side. The statue of the Guardian of the North holds a bipa, a plucked lute, with both hands, and his left leg, raised slightly off the ground, is supported by the right hand of the demon beneath it; the demon, with a topknot ornament, bulging eyes, a bulbous nose and prominent cheekbones, is rendered with striking three-dimensionality. The statue of the Guardian of the South holds a wish-fulfilling jewel in his left hand and grips a dragon with his right; the dragon opens its mouth and rears up toward the king's face, its tail coiling once around his forearm. The demon beneath wears a flower-ornamented hat, and even the muscles and claws of its feet are carved in fine detail. The statue of the Guardian of the West raises his right hand to hold a banner that curves backward, while his left arm is raised almost to shoulder height, bearing a jewelled pagoda on its palm; unlike the other demons, which face sideways, the demon beneath his feet faces forward. An inscription on the rear of the head of the Guardian of the West statue records that it was made in 1649, the 27th year of King Injo, and a record on the underside of the jewelled pagoda held in his left hand states that the pagoda was newly made and installed in 1786, the 10th year of King Jeongjo. This set of Four Guardian King statues is thus of a clearly documented date, embodies a strong determination to overcome national hardship in the aftermath of the Manchu invasion of 1636, and skilfully expresses the wrathful, valiant bearing that such guardian figures are meant to convey, making it an outstanding work.

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Where it is

Region

Wanju, Jeonbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물