Hanging Painting of Eunhaesa Temple

A gwaebul is a huge Buddhist painting made to be hung in the courtyard in front of the main hall for worship when a temple holds a great ceremony or rite; this painting, on a massive picture plane, depicts a single Buddha figure alone, painted in colour on silk. Symmetrical decoration is placed to the left and right of the Buddha figure, giving harmony to a composition that might otherwise have appeared monotonous. The Buddha wears a red robe against a green halo, with a round face bearing a gentle expression. The line of the shoulders is also rendered as rounded, giving an overall impression that is full and gentle. At the upper corners of the painting are decorative birds and canopies, and peonies are placed on either side of the centre, symbolically expressing the peacefulness of the Buddhist world. Against an ochre ground, red and green are the principal colours, and the brushwork is extremely fine yet refined, giving a lively impression. Produced in 1750, the 26th year of King Yeongjo, this gwaebul has a symbolic composition representing an ascent from a pond of fully bloomed lotus flowers to the heavenly realm; with its full, rounded forms, refined lines and well-balanced colours, it stands out as a masterpiece among 18th-century Buddhist paintings.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yeongcheon, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물