Hanging Painting of Mihwangsa Temple

A gwaebul is a huge Buddhist painting hung in the courtyard in front of the main hall for large-scale rites and ceremonies. The Mihwangsa hanging painting fills the picture with the principal Buddha, with the Dragon King and Dragon Princess depicted below. It measures 1,190 cm in length and 484.2 cm in width, with the principal Buddha emphasised across the full height of the composition and the Dragon King and Dragon Princess painted at the bottom. The face of the principal Buddha has small ears, eyes, mouth and nose, and a topknot-shaped cranial protuberance is clearly rendered at the crown of the head. The hair is depicted with small snail-shell curls shown only in outline, and a large jewel is prominently painted at the centre of the forehead as well as another at the very crown of the head. The undergarment is open at the chest and tied with a sash knotted at the waist, and the robe is decorated with a lattice pattern typical of paintings from the late eighteenth century. This hanging painting was made in the third year of King Yeongjo of Joseon (1727) by the monk-painters Takhaeng, Seolsim, Huisim, Imhan, Minhwi, Chwisang, Myeonghyeon and others, and is notable for its distinctive composition, in which the principal Buddha is given exceptional prominence. It is also considered an outstanding work for its bright green and red wash shading and its use of pale green, pink and ochre, which together create a subtle yet fantastical world.

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Where it is

Region

Haenam, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Treasure · 보물