Artefacts held at Bongjeongsa Temple

The designated artefacts held at Bongjeongsa Temple include woodblocks, Buddhist paintings (taenghwa) and portraits of eminent monks. Bongjeongsa Temple, at the foot of Cheondeungsan Mountain, is said to have been founded in 682, the second year of King Sinmun of Silla, by the monk Uisang. According to legend, Uisang used his spiritual power to send a paper phoenix flying from Buseoksa Temple, and where it came down to rest here the temple was named Bongjeongsa, meaning 'phoenix landing'. Bongjeongsa Temple holds woodblocks for a variety of texts, most of which appear to have been carved around 1759, the forty-fifth year of King Yeongjo of Joseon, comprising more than ten titles in all. Although they date from the late Joseon period, their significance lies in having been carved at a provincial temple; the carving is fine and the woodblocks remain in good condition. In the Amitabha Assembly in the Land of Bliss, the seated Amitabha Buddha on a high pedestal is placed slightly above centre, flanked by twelve bodhisattvas, six to each side, with two of the Four Heavenly Kings shown beside each group of bodhisattvas. In the upper register are the Ten Great Disciples, five to each side, with two heavenly beings at either end. In the gwaebul, a huge Buddhist painting hung outdoors for great ceremonies, the principal Buddha stands at the centre before a key-shaped halo. On either side stand four bodhisattvas each, eight in total, likewise shown standing, with the Ten Great Disciples again shown five to each side in the upper part of the painting. The group of portraits of eminent monks at Bongjeongsa Temple share a common pose: the subject sits on a cushion toward the right of the picture, turned slightly to face left, holding a monk's staff or a string of prayer beads. This follows the typical iconography for seated portraits established by the late seventeenth century, and shows an already standardised, well-balanced composition.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Andong, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산