Hongcheonsutasa Temple Ksitigarbha and Ten Kings Painting

This is a Buddhist painting preserved at Sutasa Temple, depicting Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and the Ten Kings (siwang) of the underworld. Measuring 186 cm in height and 205 cm in width, it centres on Ksitigarbha seated cross-legged on a high pedestal decorated with lion heads, with some seventy figures of various kinds arranged in orderly rows to either side. Among Ten Kings paintings of the late Joseon period, this work is notable for the unusually large number of figures it contains; to keep the composition orderly, a band of red cloud is painted across the middle, dividing the picture into upper and lower sections. The Ksitigarbha at the centre has a shaved head covered by a transparent hood and holds a long staff and a wish-fulfilling jewel (boju) in his hands. His robe is draped over both shoulders, and his body is adorned with earrings, bracelets and other ornaments. The green halo is rendered with the head halo and the body halo shown separately. Around Ksitigarbha are placed five of the Ten Kings and the Ten Great Bodhisattvas on each side, with two of the Four Heavenly Kings standing to left and right. Below the band of cloud are groups of figures painted smaller than those above: prison guards (okjol) are placed at the very front, followed in turn by court officials (pangwan), messengers (saja) and child attendants (dongja). The figures at the front, surrounded by cloud, are drawn small, while the Ten Great Bodhisattvas and the Four Heavenly Kings above are depicted relatively large, so that figures grow larger toward the top and the eye is naturally drawn to Ksitigarbha. An inscription at the bottom centre reveals that the painting was made in 1776, the fifty-second year of King Yeongjo, by the monk Seolhun and others.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Hongcheon, Gangwon

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산