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Hanging Painting of Janggoksa Temple (Maitreya Buddha)

장곡사 미륵불 괘불탱 ( 長谷寺 彌勒佛 掛佛幀 )

Heritage Search Detail
Classification National Treasure
Name of Cultural Properties Hanging Painting of Janggoksa Temple (Maitreya Buddha)
Quantity 1 Item
Designated Date 1997.09.22
Age The 14th year of the reign of King Hyeonjong of Joseon (1673)
Address Janggoksa Temple, 241, Janggok-gil, Daechi-myeon, Cheongyang-gun, Chungcheongnam-do

Gwaebul is a large Buddhist painting that is hung at the front garden of the sanctuary during sermons or ceremonies. This picture is 585.7cm in width and 897.6cm in length. It was painted by five monk painters, including Cheolhak, in the hope of long lives for the King, Queen, and the Prince. It was painted in 1673 (the 14th year of King Hyeonjong of Joseon). The image of Maitreya is in the center and the images of six Buddhas and six Bodhisattvas fill the picture. It is said that after 5,670,000,000 years has passed from the time Sakyamuni entered nirvana, he will come back to the human world in the shape of Maitreya and save the people. Maitreya has a rectangular face and is wearing a splendidly wrought crown on his head. The crown has images of four Buddhas. He is also holding a branch of yonghwasu in full bloom. He is full in shape and has a quite large upper body and long arms. Vairocana Buddha and Nosanabul, each at this left and right side, have round auras around their heads. The former has his fingers pointing downwards in the figure of jigwonin, and the latter has his palms lifted upwards in the shape of preaching. Other Buddhas and Bodhisattvas carry things that represent them and the ten disciples have their palms clasped together in the shape of worship. They are bowing to different directions and with different expressions on their faces. Under this are the Four Guardian Kings, who guard over Sakyamuni, and their followers. This picture presents Maitreya as the head Buddha. However, the content of the picture is much the same as that of Yeongsan hoesangdo, which describes Sakyamuni, the Buddha of the present, preaching at Yeongchuksan Mountain. Only the figures and the arrangement of the figures are different. The content of this picture also differs a little from what is written in the canons. It stimulates further studies.