Master Gakjin Bokgu Portrait of Baegyangsa Temple, Jangseong

This portrait depicts National Preceptor Gakjin Bokgu, who carried out the third major reconstruction of Baegyangsa Temple in Jangseong, and was made in 1825, in the late Joseon period. Gakeom (1270–1355) had the personal name Bokgu, the pen name Mueonsu, and the posthumous title National Preceptor Gakjin. He resided for more than forty years at Wolnamsa Temple and Songgwangsa Temple, guiding the community as the thirteenth patriarch of Suseonsa, and rebuilt Jeongtosa Temple. According to the painting's inscription, this portrait was made in 1825 (the fifth year of the Daoguang reign) at Naewonam Hermitage of Seonunsa Temple and was later moved to Jeongtosa Temple on Baegyangsan Mountain, now Baegyangsa Temple. The monk, shown with a long, slender face, is seated sideways on a chair, facing right. A footrest lies beneath his feet, and a floor mat is placed under the chair. In his left hand he holds a whisk with a dragon-head handle and white bristles, while his right hand rests lightly on the armrest of the chair. Much of the colouring has flaked away, but he is shown wearing a blue jangsam (a monk's long inner robe) with a red kasaya (a Buddhist patchwork outer robe) draped over it. The jangsam has a black-trimmed hem, and the kasaya has a hem decorated with an ornate floral pattern. The chair has a tall wooden back, painted green, with gold decoration on its frame and ornamental parts. In the upper left of the background a rocky hillside is rendered in ink wash with skilled brushwork, and a pine tree is painted on the rock face. The painting was made by the monk-painter Jangyu. This portrait of National Preceptor Gakjin at Baegyangsa Temple was produced in 1825. Although the painter-monk Jangyu is not widely known, the quality of the work is good. The portrait is of great significance because its date of production and artist can be clearly identified, and National Preceptor Gakjin, who carried out a major reconstruction of Baegyangsa Temple, is a highly important figure in the temple's history.

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Where it is

Region

Jangseong, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산