Gwaneumjeon Hall Seated Wooden Avalokitesvara of Beomeosa Temple

This seated Avalokitesvara is enshrined as the principal image in Beomeosa Temple's Gwaneumjeon Hall, and having been regilded in 1999 it is currently in very good condition. An ink inscription on the upper surface of the lotus pedestal, above the octagonal base, records that the statue was made in 1722, and that the sculptor-monks involved included Jinyeol, who had also overseen the repair and gilding of Beomeosa Temple's Vairocana Triad, along with Cheongu, Cheonghwi, Gwanseong and Okhol. The seated Avalokitesvara sits in the full lotus position on a lotus pedestal atop the octagonal base. A kundika (ritual water vessel) rests on a lotus flower extending from the right side of the pedestal, and to the left front of the image the boy Sudhana (Seonjae-dongja) kneels with hands joined in worship of the bodhisattva. The statue stands 102.8 cm tall, making it a relatively large work. The posture has an upright waist with the shoulders bent slightly forward; the head is somewhat large in proportion to the body, but the broad width of the legs lends a sense of stability. For a work of the first half of the eighteenth century, this Avalokitesvara is relatively large in scale, with well-balanced bodily proportions and a serene, harmonious face. In particular, the decorative bokgap (an abdominal armour-like element) and gapdae (belt-like band) on the lower body can also be found in bodhisattva paintings of an earlier date, and it is notable that similar examples rendered in sculpture have recently been found in the Jeolla and Chungcheong regions. In addition, the celestial robe flowing down from the shoulders forms an S-shaped curve that sweeps dynamically in front of the knees, demonstrating the skill of the sculptor-monk Jinyeol in giving form to the image of Avalokitesvara seated on Mount Potalaka. The seated wooden Avalokitesvara of Beomeosa Temple's Gwaneumjeon Hall is not only excellent in artistic style and well preserved, but the ink inscription on its pedestal also clearly records its date of production, place of enshrinement and the sculptor-monks involved, making it a valuable resource for the study of late Joseon Buddhist statuary as well as a work of very high heritage value.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Geumjeong-gu, Busan

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산