Cultural Heritage Administration Notice ... Evaluation of Late 18th Century 'Buddhist Painting Standard Works'
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongwook Park] Sangju City in Gyeongbuk announced on the 24th that the 'Yeongsanhoe Gwaebul Painting and its Inner Contents' housed at Namjangsa, an ancient temple from the Silla Dynasty, have been designated as Treasure No. 2116, a nationally designated cultural property (Cultural Heritage Administration Notice No. 2021-14).
The Yeongsanhoe Gwaebul Painting of Namjangsa is a large Buddhist painting measuring 11 meters in height, created in 1776 (the first year of King Jeongjo's reign) by 23 painters from the Gyeongsang Province region, including Yu Seong (有誠), a representative Buddhist painter of the late Joseon period. It is considered a standard work of Buddhist paintings from the late 18th century.
In particular, the unique academic value of the Namjangsa Yeongsanhoe Gwaebul lies in the fact that although it was damaged during the local rain prayer ceremonies after its creation and could not serve its original function, it still retains its original coloring and mounting intact.
Its well-structured composition is also highly praised. Sakyamuni Buddha is depicted in an overwhelming size at the center of the painting, with important attendant figures on the left and right arranged in a rising manner according to their rank. Additionally, the Dragon King and Dragon Maiden appear, representing the core idea of the Lotus Sutra that all sentient beings can attain Buddhahood.
The inner contents of the Gwaebul consist of three items: one inner pouch, one bronze mirror, and one storage box for the pouch. Among existing inner pouches, it is relatively large in scale and is very well preserved.
The city of Sangju explained that the entire set of the Gwaebul and its inner contents has been preserved, demonstrating the completeness of the Gwaebul, and it has been designated as a treasure as it is recognized as a very important case for the study of Buddhist painting history and Buddhist rituals during the Joseon Dynasty.
Kang Young-seok, mayor of Sangju, welcomed the designation, saying, "It is very meaningful that the Yeongsanhoe Gwaebul Painting and its inner contents of Namjangsa, a historic temple and the first distribution site of Beompae in Korea, have been highly recognized for their cultural value and designated as a national treasure."
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