Hanging Painting of Anguksa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly)

This is a Yeongsanhoe gwaebul depicting the scene of Sakyamuni Buddha preaching. A gwaebul is a large Buddhist painting hung in the courtyard in front of the main hall for great ceremonies and rites at a temple. Measuring 11.08 m long and 7.31 m wide, this Yeongsanhoe painting centres on Sakyamuni, with Prabhutaratna, Manjusri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas on the right, and Amitabha, Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattvas standing on the left. Sakyamuni, filling the picture, stands at the centre with large, bold features, a sturdy build, squared shoulders, an exposed chest, unusually elongated arms and a lower body that appears short; this large, sturdy figure seems to overwhelm the viewer. Green and orange predominate, with grey, pink and other intermediate tones giving a subdued atmosphere, while clouds, lotus flowers and dancheong-style patterns create a splendid, fantastical effect. Painted by several monk-painters including Uigyeom, this work deliberately emphasises the principal Buddha to draw the viewer's gaze. Records show that the rear wall was refurbished in 1792, the sixteenth year of King Jeongjo of Joseon, and again in 1809, the ninth year of King Sunjo, suggesting that the painting itself was made around 1730, the sixth year of King Yeongjo, when the monk-painter Uigyeom was active.

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Where it is

Region

Muju, Jeonbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물