Paju City Initiates Preservation Treatment for 'Bogwangsa Daeungbojeon Hyeonwangdo'

Preservation of the Bokwangsa Daeungbojeon Hyeonwangdo,
a Masterpiece of Royal Buddhist Painting from the Late Joseon Dynasty

Paju City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kim Kyung-il) announced on the 17th that it will undertake the preservation treatment of the Gyeonggi-do Tangible Cultural Heritage ‘Bokwangsa Daeungbojeon Hyeonwangdo’ located in the Daeungbojeon Hall of Bokwangsa Temple.

Heavenly Kings Painting in the Main Buddha Hall of Bogwangsa Temple. Provided by Paju City

Bokwangsa Temple in Paju is known to have been founded during the Unified Silla period and has undergone several restorations through the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties. During the Joseon Dynasty, King Yeongjo designated Bokwangsa as a royal tomb temple for his mother, Lady Sukbin Choi, after which it received royal patronage. It is understood that this Buddhist painting was created during the restoration of the Daeungbojeon Hall in 1898, supported by Lady Eom and court ladies.

The Buddhist painting was created by four painters, led by Gyeongseondang Eungseok, a monk-painter active mainly in Seoul and the Gyeonggi region from the late 19th to early 20th century. It features a diagonal composition that breaks away from the traditional symmetrical left-right layout, actively drawing viewers into the judgment story of the King of the Underworld in the netherworld, thereby enhancing the sense of presence.

However, the ‘Bokwangsa Daeungbojeon Hyeonwangdo’ has experienced pigment oxidation and some flaking over more than 100 years. Changes in the external environment have caused the frame to warp, resulting in tears and perforations in the painting. Accordingly, Paju City decided on preservation treatment based on the opinions of cultural heritage experts, selected a company through a competitive proposal process, and plans to begin the preservation treatment within this month.

Mayor Kim Kyung-il of Paju said, “We will ensure that the cultural heritage in Paju is preserved scientifically and intact,” and added, “We will do our best so that citizens can experience the spiritual culture and artistic world of our ancestors.”

The preservation treatment of the Buddhist painting is expected to take about eight months, and after completion, it will be returned to the Daeungbojeon Hall of Bokwangsa Temple.