Gokseong Dodongmyoanhyang Portrait

This is a portrait of An Hyang (1243–1306), held at Dodongmyo Shrine in Gokseong. An Hyang was Korea's first scholar of Neo-Confucianism (the teachings of Zhu Xi); his childhood name was Yu, his clan seat was Sunheung, his courtesy name was Sa-on, and his pen name was Hoeheon. In 1289 he accompanied King Chungnyeol to the Yuan dynasty, where he studied the teachings of Zhu Xi, and on returning devoted himself to their study; he trained many disciples, after which Confucian learning flourished widely in Korea. The portrait of An Hyang at Dodongmyo Shrine is a copy made in 1660 of the portrait of An Hyang enshrined at Sosuseowon Confucian Academy (National Treasure No. 111). An Eung-chang, who oversaw the copying, did not simply reproduce the original but added an expression of reverence, attaching eulogies (chanmun) by eminent scholars of the day to convey his descendants' pride in their ancestor. The portrait shows only the upper body, dressed in a red robe and a black bokdu (an official's hat); the face is turned slightly to show a right three-quarter view. The brushwork of the drapery folds is somewhat weak, with traces of breaks here and there. At the top of the portrait are eulogies added by several people. The authors of these eulogies are Kim Sang-heon (1570–1652), Sin Ik-seong (1588–1644), Yi Gyeong-seok (1595–1671) and Hong Seo-bong (1572–1645), all leading literary figures of their time. By the time this portrait was made, most of them had already died, so it is presumed that these eulogies were not newly composed when the portrait was copied, but were earlier compositions attached to it at that time. The portrait of An Hyang held at Dodongmyo Shrine in Gokseong is a copy made around 1660; although it is a copy produced in the late Joseon period, it is nonetheless an early example of a portrait painting, holds academic value for comparative study between the original and the copy, and has historical value for the eulogies by literary figures of the period that are attached to it.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gokseong, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료