Yeoju Silleuksa Temple Bronze Steamer

A siru is a steaming vessel: hot steam rises through holes in its base to cook the food placed inside it. Many were made and used at Buddhist temples to prepare rice cakes (tteok) offered in ceremonies. While some were made of earthenware, quite a number of bronze examples have also survived at temples, including large steamers bearing inscriptions, such as those at Beomeosa Temple and Jikjisa Temple. This is a large bronze steamer kept at the Seongbo Museum of Yongjusa Temple. The temple's own tradition holds that it originally came from Silleuksa Temple. The body is a large cylinder, slightly wider at the mouth and narrowing towards the base, with handles attached horizontally on both sides. The handles are fixed to the body with 3 rivets arranged in a triangular pattern, a method that appeared as early as the Goryeo period and can be confirmed to have continued in use into the late Joseon period. The Bronze Steamer of Yongjusa Temple, Hwaseong lacks the cauldron that would originally have supported it from below, which is regrettable, but the form of the steamer itself survives in very good condition. As an item made for preparing food for Buddhist offerings, the bronze steamer is valuable as a piece of folk craft material that gives insight into the economic standing of temples of the period.

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Where it is

Region

Hwaseong, Gyeonggi

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료