Hyeonwang Painting of Cheongnyongsa Temple

The Hyeonwang Painting of Cheongnyongsa Temple was made in 1868 together with a Painting of Kshitigarbha and the Ten Kings and a Chilseong (Seven Stars) Painting, and was originally enshrined in Geungnakjeon Hall; it is now kept on the side wall to the left of the altar in Daeungjeon Hall at Cheongnyongsa Temple. It was produced jointly by Eungnyun and Seungui, who painted the Chilseong Painting, together with Myeongeung Yungam, who painted the gasataeng (a banner depicting a monk's ceremonial robe); it simply depicts the scene in which Hyeonwang—the king who judges the newly deceased—and his retinue pass judgement on the dead. The figures are rendered relatively large within a comparatively small picture surface, giving the composition a full, crowded feel. The colouring is dominated by green and red, with red used as the principal tone, closely following the colour scheme typical of Buddhist paintings of the late nineteenth century. Elements drawn from general painting can also be seen, such as the wood-grain pattern used on the top of the desk and the ink-wash landscape depicted on the folding screen; the flowing yet finely detailed brushwork stands out, as does the ornate decoration of the chair on which Hyeonwang sits. Although many Hyeonwang paintings survive across the country today, examples are rare in the Seoul region. The Hyeonwang Painting of Cheongnyongsa Temple is likewise notable for these general-painting elements—the wood-grain pattern on the desktop and the ink-wash landscape within the folding screen—and for its flowing, finely detailed brushwork.

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Where it is

Region

Jongno-gu, Seoul

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산