Portrait of State Preceptor Seongak (Doseon) in Seonamsa Temple, Suncheon

State Preceptor Doseon (827–898) was a Seon (Zen) monk active in the late Silla period. He rebuilt Seonamsa Temple as one of the Three Rock Temples (Samamsa), a group of three geomantically supplementary temples in the southern region whose names each contain the character "巖" (rock). The portrait shows him in a chair-seated pose (uijwasang), both feet resting on a footrest, holding an upright Zen staff (jujangja) in his right hand. The rendering of the drapery is distinctive: the folds of the green robe are expressed through gradations of light and dark shading, while the folds of the red kasaya (the monk's outer robe) are built up from overlapping black and white lines. According to the inscription recording its history, the portrait was restored in 1805 by the monk Doil together with the portrait of State Preceptor Daegak, a treasure, at Seonamsa Temple, and the two portraits share a similar painting style. Among surviving portraits of eminent monks, this is a relatively early work. Dimensions (height x width): 147 x 112.5 cm (overall), 131.5 x 105 cm (painted surface).

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Suncheon, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Treasure · 보물