Buddhist Painting of Tongdosa Temple (Amitabha Buddha)

At the centre of the painting, the principal image of Amitabha Buddha sits in full lotus position on a jewelled platform, flanked by the Eight Great Bodhisattvas, including Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta, and the Four Heavenly Kings. In the upper part of the composition are arranged the Ten Great Disciples, the Dragon King and the Dragon Girl, making this a typical example of a preaching painting. The colouring is based mainly on vermilion, ultramarine and malachite green, with intermediate tones kept to a minimum, giving the painting a relatively vivid appearance. The principal image is drawn relatively large, evidently to emphasise the central theme, and the folds of the robe are similarly bold and flowing, in harmony with the figure of the Buddha. Overall it is an outstanding work, stable in both composition and colour. According to the inscription on the painting, it was made by the monk-painter Im Han. Im Han led the production of Buddhist paintings across the Gyeongsang-do region, including at Tongdosa Temple itself, as well as Girimsa Temple, Seongnamsa Temple and Unmunsa Temple; his works include the Painting of the Vairocana Trikaya Buddhas at Girimsa Temple (1718) and, at Tongdosa Temple, the Painting of Sakyamuni's Preaching (1734) and the Painting of the Vairocana Trikaya Buddhas (1759). The brushwork throughout is delicate and fluid, and the arrangement of the figures is distinctive; as an early work in which Im Han served as chief painter, it pioneered the so-called 'Im Han school' of painting style, giving it great value as research material.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yangsan, Gyeongnam

Designation

Treasure · 보물