Beomeosa Temple Yeon

This is a yeon, a palanquin kept at Beomeosa Temple and used in Buddhist temples during rituals or to carry Buddha images; such palanquins are characterised by their lavish, highly ornamental decoration. The Beomeosa yeon consists of four carrying poles that serve as handles, a body shaped like a small house, and a dome-shaped roof. Carved at the ends of the handles are ornaments shaped like dragon heads, though the two at the front are now missing. The body has railings fitted on all four sides, with four columns erected and the central space left open, framed like the windows of a timber building; openwork patterns of the swastika, the elixir plant, lotus flowers, Buddha's-hand citron, the peach of immortality, and pomegranates are carved into it. Iron rings that once held beaded curtains remain at the top of each side of the body. The eaves of the roof are reinforced with metal fittings bearing openwork patterns of the seven treasures and incised scrollwork. The ceiling was made by forming a dome-shaped frame of wisteria wood, covering it with mulberry paper and then with black silk over that; at the four outer corner ridges it is further bound with thin iron plates arranged six to a side, shaped like flower ornaments that serve the function of the large-headed nails used in wooden structures. At the top of the roof, four lotus leaves of thin iron plate are attached, topped with a wooden finial painted vermilion. As most palanquins made in the late Joseon period have been lost, with few surviving examples, the Beomeosa yeon is a valuable resource for examining the form commonly produced for such palanquins in the late Joseon period.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Geumjeong-gu, Busan

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료