Bronze Drum of Seonamsa Temple

This bronze gong (geumgo), a percussion instrument used in Buddhist temples to call monks to rites, was kept inside the Daeungjeon Hall of Seonamsa Temple. It has the closed, basin-like shape of a jing-type gong: the front bears no pattern beyond raised concentric circles, while the sides carry semicircular rings at the top and at left and right for fixing it in a frame. The back has a rim extending from the sides, in the style of a banja-type (tray-shaped) gong; there is no special carved decoration or inscription on the front, sides, or striking spot (dangjwa). However, comparing the Seonamsa jungsugi (record of the temple's renovation), written in 1867 (the 5th year of Emperor Gojong) by Dongak Juil, with a similarly shaped gong made for Beomeosa Temple in 1862, it is presumed to have been made around the time of the 1867 renovation of the temple's halls. The Seonamsa gong bears no inscription recording its making, but to judge from its size and technique it is presumed to date from the late Joseon period, and it is considered a valuable artefact showing the standing of Seonamsa Temple at the time it was made. It is currently kept in the Seongbo Museum of Beomeosa Temple.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Busanjin-gu, Busan

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료