Namhae Yongmunsa Temple Wooden Four Guardian Kings Statue

Inside Cheonwangmun, the gate of the Four Guardian Kings at Yongmunsa Temple, two seated wooden statues of the Guardian Kings stand on each side, left and right. On the visitor's right stand the Guardian King of the East and the Guardian King of the South; on the visitor's left stand the Guardian King of the West and the Guardian King of the North. All four are shown with their feet lowered, each treading on a demon underfoot. They wear ornate crowns on their heads and armour on their bodies, with the ends of their heavenly scarves flowing down from both shoulders to their feet. As hand-held attributes, the King of the East holds a pipa (a lute-like instrument), the King of the West a dragon and a wish-fulfilling jewel (yeouiju), the King of the South a long sword, and the King of the North a jewelled trident (bocha). The statues were made by a sectional construction technique, with wooden dowels inserted at each joint and, in places, secured with iron pins. Their faces are square in shape and painted pink overall, except for the King of the North, whose flesh tone is distinguished by a reddish, pale blue-black colour. Some of the crown ornaments appear to have fallen away, but at present the crowns of all the kings except the King of the South are decorated with a rose of Sharon flanked by two phoenixes facing each other, surrounded by various flowers; on the King of the South's crown, a single phoenix with widely spread wings is placed at the centre, surrounded by flowers and flame patterns. Their costume consists of shoulder armour, breast armour, stomach armour and waist armour, with a long robe hanging down from behind the head to the tips of the feet; the heavenly scarf at the head is decorated with a large flame pattern, and the part below the waist is tied in a figure-of-eight knot. The robes of the King of the South and the King of the North are missing. The pedestals beneath the feet of the Guardian Kings were made separately and set in place afterwards; rather than demons, they take the form of secular officials.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Namhae, Gyeongnam

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산