Bronze Jong

This is a bronze Buddhist temple bell (beomjong) of the Goryeo period, 45cm in overall height. Its shape follows the characteristic form of Korean bells, being widest at the body and narrowing slightly inward toward the bottom. On the crown plate are a dragon-shaped hanger and a sound tube; no casting hole survives, but traces of a filled hole suggest that molten metal was poured in through the crown plate during casting. The dragon hanger is a single dragon, its body sharply bent, one foot raised to hold a magic jewel and the other planted firmly backward on the crown plate. Its mouth is open, biting the jewel, chin resting on the crown plate as if moving forward; the wide-open eyes, sharply raised fins and claws gripping the jewel give it a dynamic, vigorous look. Behind the dragon's body is attached a sound tube, divided into three sections like bamboo, with a floral band raised prominently at its upper part. Around the edge of the crown plate runs a band of upright floral decoration, a form of ornament found on the crown plates of Goryeo bells from the eleventh century onward; it is usually decorated with ruyi-head motifs, but here it takes the shape of lotus petals, each with a further flower motif inside and small leaves placed between the petals. On the upper band joined to the crown plate, strings of beads are set above and below with a sparse lotus-scroll pattern between them, and below it four trapezoidal nipple panels are attached, narrower at the top and slightly wider at the bottom; their borders are decorated with the same bead-string lotus-scroll pattern as the upper band, and nine nipples are arranged within each panel. Below the nipple panels, figures of heavenly beings and striking panels are placed alternately; the heavenly beings, seated on lotus flowers with their garments fluttering, are not clearly distinguishable but appear to be playing instruments or making offerings, though the movement of the drapery is somewhat heavy and the faces are large in proportion to the bodies, showing signs of stylisation. The striking panel is a typical Goryeo lotus-design panel, with a large seed pod and small leaves between six petals. The lower band is likewise bordered above and below with strings of beads and bears a floral pattern that, though unclear in form, appears to be a paradise-flower scroll design. This bell is a bell of the late Goryeo period, well equipped with the typical features of Korean bells: a single dragon, a sound tube, upper and lower bands decorated with floral patterns, a lotus-design striking panel, and nipple panels.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Jongno-gu, Seoul

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산