Tongdosa Temple Geungnagam Hermitage Amitabha Altar Painting, Yangsan

This Buddhist painting is an Amitabha altar painting enshrined in Muryangsugak Hall of Geungnagam Hermitage at Tongdosa Temple, depicted in white lines on red-ground silk. Centred on the Buddha Amitabha in the middle of the composition, the Six Great Bodhisattvas, Brahma, Indra, the Four Heavenly Kings, and the disciples Ananda and Kashyapa are arranged to left and right, while the Dragon King, the Dragon King's daughter, the Eight Vajra Guardians, and four guardian-deity figures are placed symmetrically in the upper register, forming a densely populated composition. The Buddha Amitabha, with a round halo around the head and a round body halo, forms the mudra signifying the lower grade of the middle class of rebirth and sits cross-legged on a pedestal; broad shoulders, a dignified chest and comparatively wide knees give the figure stable proportions. To either side of the Six Bodhisattvas stand the Four Heavenly Kings in armour and heavenly robes, with vigorous bearing: Dhrtarastra, Guardian King of the East, holding a pipa (a lute-like instrument); Virudhaka, Guardian King of the South, holding a long sword; Virupaksa, Guardian King of the West, grasping a dragon and a wish-fulfilling jewel; and Vaisravana, Guardian King of the North, holding a jewelled pagoda and a spear. The beard of Virupaksa, Guardian King of the West, was first covered overall with pale ink, then crossed repeatedly with fine brush strokes of thick and thin black-ink lines, over which white lines were finally drawn. The beard of Virudhaka, Guardian King of the South, was painted thickly with malachite green and outlined with black ink, while that of Vaisravana, Guardian King of the North, was painted thickly with white and ultramarine and then rendered over with black-ink lines. According to the votive inscription accompanying the beard of Vaisravana, the painting was made in the first year of the Daoguang era (1821) and enshrined at Geungnagam Hermitage, with several monk-painters, including Gyeui and Gwanbo, taking part in its production.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yangsan, Gyeongnam

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료