Hanging Painting of Sudosa Temple (Rocana Buddha)

This is a gwaebul in the single-image format, filling the entire picture plane with the Rocana Buddha; 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. The Rocana Buddha in this painting has a round face and wears an elaborate jewelled crown, holding a lotus branch in the right hand and supporting it with the left. Around the crown are seven small images in the form of the Buddha Vairocana, and behind the head is a round halo. A red robe is draped over the round, full shoulders, and the hair flows down as far as the elbows. The lower part of the robe and the halo behind the back are rendered in sky blue, and five-coloured rays of light are painted from the back up over the head, adding to the splendour. Painted in 1704, the 30th year of King Sukjong, the painting uses chiefly red and green and clearly displays the characteristics of late-Joseon Buddhist painting. Painted on a coarse hemp ground, the lines are somewhat thick, but the meticulous depiction and tightly organised composition give it refinement. Although it was touched up in 1822, the 22nd year of King Sunjo, its rounded face and shoulders, slightly drooping eyebrows and colouring show the typical style of the reigns of King Hyojong and King Sukjong of Joseon, and it is valued as an important work.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yeongcheon, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물