Skip Navigation

Heritage Search

Tangible Cultural Heritage

Gathering of Amitabha Buddha and Others of Bongguksa Temple, Seongnam

성남 봉국사 아미타불회도 

Heritage Search Detail
Classification Tangible Cultural Heritage
Name of Cultural Properties Gathering of Amitabha Buddha and Others of Bongguksa Temple, Seongnam
Quantity
Designated Date 2016.07.22
Age
Address

Amitabha Buddha paintings describe sermon scenes of Amitabha Buddha unfolding in the Land of Pure Bliss in the West. In the “Gathering of Amitabha Buddha and Others” of Bongguksa Temple, Seongnam, Amitabha Buddha is seated in the lotus position on top of the lotus pedestal located at the center of the painting. Usually, the attending Bodhisattvas would be Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta, each wearing a crown decorated with a Buddha figure and a long-necked bottle respectively. However, in this painting, except for the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva who has a bare head and is holding a staff, the articles or the appearances of most of the Bodhisattvas including Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva are unclear, so it is impossible to recognize their names. Such tendency where the appearance of the main Bodhisattva or attending Bodhisattvas become unclear is mostly seen in 19th century Buddhist paintings. This painting uses red and green as main colors, and white, beige and blue as secondary colors. Among them, the blue is in the range of cobalt blue which was frequently used around Gyeonggi region in late 19th century. According to the note on the painting, it was created in 1873 at Heungcheonsa Temple in Samgaksan Mountain, and enshrined in Bongguksa Temple in Yeongjangsan Mountain. A total of 12 monk painters participated, including Deogun Geungyun, Changsong Choyeon, Jangjeon, and Bohyeong. It is clear that this painting was created with the support of the royal family since the Court Lady Lee is stated as the benefactor. This Buddhist painting is judged to be of a higher quality among those produced in the latter 19th century in Gyeonggi region for its overall stable composition, excellent depiction of the Bodhisattvas, and elaborate details. Furthermore, it displays the regional elements of the Gyeonggi region in the late 19th century with its use of cobalt blue.