Seated Jinjuseong Fortress Jeonam Hermitage Wooden Buddha

This Buddha image, enshrined in the Daeungjeon Hall of Jeonam Hermitage, is a small wooden statue 60 cm in height and 43 cm in width. The statue is in very good condition overall: the head bears a topknot shape and a bead ornament, and the mouth is closed firmly. The robe falls in a U-shape draped over both shoulders. The hand gesture represents the hapum hasaengin, one of the nine hand gestures of Amitabha Buddha. A record made at the time of the statue's creation, together with sutras, was found inside the statue's body; according to this record, the statue was made in 1644, the 22nd year of King Injo of Joseon. Because its date of production can be established precisely, this statue is very important material for the study of mid-Joseon Buddhist sculpture. Jeonam Hermitage was founded in 879, the fifth year of King Heongang of Silla, by the State Preceptor Doseon. Doseon, reading the land of Korea through geomancy, held that the vital energy of Baekdusan Mountain travelled down along the Baekdudaegan mountain range, with one branch coming to rest at Samgaksan Mountain north of the Hangang River, and another branch converging at Yeohangsan Mountain, which lies along the Namgang River. Doseon is said to have built a hermitage here and named it Jeonam Hermitage, meaning "the place where a sage once lived". The later history of the temple is not well known, but it is said that when King Injo (r. 1623–1649) was still Neungyanggun, he took refuge here and, after performing a hundred-day prayer to overcome the national crisis, ascended the throne. The temple built Injogak Hall to commemorate this, and rites are still held there to this day.

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Where it is

Region

Jinju, Gyeongnam

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산