[News Terms] National Treasure Designation of 'Haeinsa Yeongsanhoesangdo and Jikjisa Seokgayeorae Sambulhoedo'

The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on the 26th that the late Joseon Dynasty Buddhist paintings 'Hapcheon Haeinsa Yeongsanhoesangdo' and 'Gimcheon Jikjisa Seokgayeorae Sambulhoedo' have been elevated from treasures to national designated cultural heritage national treasures. National treasures are designated by the Cultural Heritage Committee after reviewing treasures that are recognized for their significant historical, academic, artistic, and technical value. Treasures are cultural heritage items of high value among tangible cultural properties, including buildings.

Haeinsa Yeongsanhoesangdo at Hapcheon [Photo by National Heritage Agency]

The Yeongsanhoesangdo of Haeinsa Temple is a painting depicting the scene of Shakyamuni Buddha delivering a sermon on a silk background. The Yeongsanhoesangdo was created in 1729 by monks specialized in Buddhist paintings, including Uigyeom (義謙), Yeoseong (汝性), Haengjong (幸宗), Minhui (敏熙), and Malin (抹仁). This Buddhist painting is characterized by the prominent depiction of Shakyamuni Buddha, while the other figures are drawn progressively smaller from the bottom to the top to express a sense of elevation. The clothing patterns are also intricately detailed with fine gold lines.

The Jikjisa Seokgayeorae Sambulhoedo, which became a national treasure about 44 years after being designated a treasure in 1980, is a triptych painting with the central Yeongsanhoesangdo flanked by the Yaksa Yeorae Seolbeopdo and Amitabha Yeorae Seolbeopdo on the left and right. It is the oldest Buddhist painting among existing Sambulhoedo paintings with all three panels intact.

Jikjisa Seokgayeorae Sambulhoedo in Gimcheon [Photo by National Heritage Agency]

With this, the total number of national treasures has reached 361. Last year, Yeongnamru in Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do, and Jukseoru in Samcheok, Gangwon-do, were elevated to national treasures. Jukseoru in Samcheok was originally built during the Goryeo Dynasty and rebuilt in the early Joseon period, undergoing several repairs and expansions. The current hipped-and-gabled roof style was established during an extension in 1788, and Jukseoru well represents architectural features from the early, middle, and late Joseon periods. Yeongnamru in Miryang originated from a small pavilion called Geumbyeokru or Soru/Jukru located at Yeongnamsa Temple built during the Unified Silla period. It was rebuilt and expanded through the Goryeo and Joseon periods. Built on a sloped site, Yeongnamru is praised for its outstanding architectural beauty and harmonious integration with the surrounding landscape.

Meanwhile, the Cultural Heritage Administration recently designated four items repatriated from Japan as treasures: the 'Najeon Gukwhaneongkullmunui Sangja' (Mother-of-Pearl Chest with National Flower Vine Pattern), the 'Gilt-bronze Bodhisattva Statue excavated from Seonlimwonji in Yangyang,' the 'Gamrowangdo of Yongjusa Temple in Hwaseong,' and the 'Sanggyojeongbon Jabidoryangchambeop.' The Najeon chest decorated with a total of 770 national flower vine patterns is an artifact showcasing Goryeo craftsmanship. It retains clear traces of patterns created by cutting and attaching thinly shaved mother-of-pearl or finely cutting and breaking it, and its preservation state is excellent. The Buddhist statue excavated from Seonlimwonji in Yangyang was found in 2015 after being buried in soil for a long time. This statue, measuring 66.7 cm in height, is a rare example that fully retains the halo symbolizing the sacred light emanating from the Buddha's body and the pedestal on which the statue is placed. The Gamrowangdo, a Buddhist painting created for use in the water and land rituals (Surukjae) held at Yongjusa Temple in Hwaseong to console and comfort wandering spirits of water and land, has also been designated a treasure.