Yeongdeok Jangyuksa 'Yeongsanhoesangdo' and 'Jijangsiwangdo' Officially Designated as Treasures

The Cultural Heritage Administration has designated and announced the Yeongsanhoesangdo (Painting of the Vulture Peak Assembly) and Jijangsiwangdo (Painting of Ksitigarbha and the Ten Kings) of Jangyuksa Temple, located in Changsu-myeon, Yeongdeok-gun, North Gyeongsang Province, as Treasures (Nationally Designated Cultural Heritage) as of the 28th of last month.

Jangyuksa Daeungjeon, Yeongdeok.

With this, Jangyuksa Temple in Yeongdeok, which is said to have been founded by Naongwangsa (1320?1376), one of the three great Buddhist monks of Korean Buddhism, now possesses three Treasures for the first time in 35 years since the Gancheol Gwaneumbosal Jwasang (Dry-lacquered Seated Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva of Jangyuksa Temple, Yeongdeok) was designated as a Treasure in 1989.

The Yeongsanhoesangdo depicts the moment when Sakyamuni Buddha preaches the Lotus Sutra at Vulture Peak, while the Jijangsiwangdo is a Buddhist painting that symmetrically portrays a total of 31 sacred figures, including Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and the Ten Kings.

Both paintings are luxuriously colored on silk and clearly indicate their production year, 1764 (the 40th year of King Yeongjo's reign), as well as the names of the Buddhist monk-painters. Their preservation and maintenance in accordance with their original purpose at the temple of enshrinement give them high historical significance and academic value.

In particular, the two paintings are of great significance in the history of Buddhist art, as different monk-painters within the same temple carried out the works through both division of labor and collaboration.

Kim Kwangyeol, the county governor, stated, "The designation and official announcement of Jangyuksa Temple's Yeongsanhoesangdo and Jijangsiwangdo, which are representative Buddhist cultural heritages of the region, have recognized their value. We will ensure thorough preservation and management of cultural heritage and continue to discover hidden local cultural assets to enhance Yeongdeok-gun's traditional culture."

Yeongdeok-gun has steadily promoted the designation and registration of cultural heritage with high local preservation value. As a result, in 2021, 'Goesi Village in Yeongdeok' was designated as a National Folklore Cultural Heritage, and 'Mural Paintings of the Daeungjeon Hall of Jangyuksa Temple in Yeongdeok' as a Gyeongbuk Provincial Tangible Cultural Heritage. In 2022, 'Okgye Chimsujeong Area in Yeongdeok' was designated as a Scenic Site, and 'Muan Park Clan's Huiamjaesa in Yeongdeok' as a National Folklore Cultural Heritage, achieving the designation of two or more national or Gyeongbuk provincial cultural heritages each year.

Last year as well, 'Yeongdeok Toyeom' was designated as a Gyeongbuk Provincial Intangible Heritage, and 'Dongae Gotaek in Yeongdeok' as a Gyeongbuk Provincial Folklore Cultural Heritage. With the designation of these two new Treasures, Yeongdeok-gun now possesses a total of four nationally designated Treasures.