The Maitreya Buddha Gwaebul at Janggoksa Temple (長谷寺 彌勒佛 掛佛幀)

장곡사 미륵불 괘불탱 메인 이미지

Date
1673년(현종 14)
Designation Type
National Treasure
Monk-Painters
Cheolhak, Cheonseung, Sinmil, Ilho, Haejong
Dimensions
Total 898×586cm, Image 810×556cm
Designated Date
1997-09-22
Holder
Janggoksa Temple

Overview

This gwaebul painting features a group that includes a standing main Buddha wearing a crown and holding a lotus stem surrounded by several Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, disciples, Indra, Brahma, and the Four Heavenly Kings. Each figure is accompanied by a cartouche bearing its name. Next to the head halo of the main Buddha is a cartouche with the name “Maitreya Buddha.” This painting provides a primary source for studying the few gwaebul paintings featuring Maitreya Buddha. Maitreya Buddha is wearing an ornate crown adorned with four Nirmana Buddhas (transformation Buddhas). He is standing resting each foot on a lotus footstool. He is clad in a green scarf and a red skirt-like garment. The undershirt covering his chest is tied with a blue cloud-shaped band. One notable feature of this painting is the exceptionally thin and elongated arms (which are holding a lotus stem) compared to other parts of his body. The subordinates surrounding Maitreya are arranged into basically three sections. In the upper section are two rows of two Buddhas and two bodhisattvas on each side of Maitreya’s head halo. All of them are depicted seated with a green head halo. In between them are seven of the Ten Great Disciples, King Ajatasattu, Dragon King, Dragon Maiden, and a heavenly lady. The four Buddhas in the upper section are Amitabha, Shakyamuni, Prabhutaratna, and Bhaisajyaguru. The four Bodhisattvas are Mahasthamaprapta, Samantabhadra, Manjusri, and Avalokiteshvara. In the middle section of the painting, Vairocana Buddha, Rocana Buddha, the Bodhisattva of the Dharma Grove, and the Bodhisattva of the Great and Marvelous Mark are depicted standing. They are portrayed larger than the other subordinates. It is noteworthy that Rocana appears identical to Vairocana and is not adorned with a crown or beaded ornaments. The two Bodhisattvas in the middle section are attending Bodhisattvas of Maitreya Buddha. Since Rocana and Vairocana commonly form the Buddhas of the Three Bodies with Shakyamuni as the main Buddha, the main Buddha in this painting is interpreted as simultaneously Maitreya and Shakyamuni. The lower section of the painting displays three of the Ten Great Disciples (Ananda, Kasyapa, and Maudgalyayana), Indra, Brahma, Devaputra, Heavenly Youth, and the Four Heavenly Kings. Flowers are scattered around the main Buddha’s lotus footstools. The edges of the painting are decorated with flower patterns that include Sanskrit characters. The lower part of the center section of the image includes a prayer for the king, queen, and crown prince. On the thin decorative border below is a cartouche with an inscription specifying the production date and enshrinement place of this gwaebul and the purpose for the related rituals. It mentions “a Great Vulture Peak Assembly gwaebul painting to be hung in the yard of the Daeungjeon Hall at Janggoksa Temple on Chilgapsan Mountain in the east of Cheongyang in the fifth lunar month of the Gyechuk year (1673), the twelfth year of the Kangxi era.” According to the inscription, there were eighty-three donors and five monk-painters (Cheolhak (as head monk-painter), Cheonseung, Sinmil, Ilho, and Haejong) participated in the production.

Inscriptions

May the king live long. May the queen lead a long life as well. I pray that the life of the crown prince continues for a thousand years. Ritual prayer In the 5th lunar month of the Gyechuk year (1673), the 12th year of the Kangxi era, the production of a Great Vulture Peak Assembly gwaebul painting to be hung in the yard of the Daeungjeon Hall at Janggoksa Temple on Chilgapsan Mountain in the east of Cheongyang, a painting for the upper altar, and three paintings for the Gwaneumjeon Hall (a painting for the upper altar, a painting for the middle altar, and a painting of Indra) was completed. I pray that this merit can widely reach to all places and enable all sentient beings, including myself, to become a Buddha. People who made donations of materials Monk Sinsu with the rank of Tongjeong daebu*, who donated many pieces of cloth for use as a support medium for the painting(batang*) Monk Uijin who holds the rank of Tongjeong daebu* and the post of Pansa donated a considerable amount of deep green pigment. Monk Deokung, who donated many pieces of paper to be pasted on the back of a Buddhist painting to fix its support material Yi Sun-rye and spouse, who donated cloth for use as a support material for the painting Monk Yeongtaek, who donated many pieces of paper to be pasted on the back of a Buddhist painting to fix its support material Yim Sa-nam and spouse, who donated a considerable amount of vermillion pigment Monk Huisang with the rank of Tongjeong daebu*, who donated arsenic yellow pigment Gyeongchun, who donated cotton cloth Ryu Baek-yeon and spouse, who donated cloth for use as a support material for the painting Kim Eon-seon, who donated a great volume of goods to be used by the public Kim Yeon-eop (Deokgeum), who donated a considerable amount of vermillion pigment and a great volume of goods to be used by the public Ryu Deuk-gil and spouse, who donated a considerable amount of salt Jeong Un-gap, who made a donation of materials Bak Gye-nam, who donated arsenic yellow pigment A person with the family name Yi, who was born in the Gichuk year, donated flour. Chuni and Shin Dae-pung (with the rank of Tongjeong daebu*), both of whom donated yeongja Yeongmyo, who donated a lamp for lighting in front of the Buddha Bak U-in, who donated a lamp for lighting in front of the Buddha Kim Chung-nam, who donated lamps and candles Kim KKeut-nam, who donated vermillion pigment and candles Yuui, who donated yellow pigment (called sudohwang in Korean) Choe Sin-nam, who donated cloth for use as a support material for the painting Seo Uk-ji, who donated goods to be used by the public Jo Eok-rye, who donated goods to be used by the public Jo Deuk-nam, who donated goods to be used by the public Seungsaeng, who donated cloth to be pasted on the back of a Buddhist painting to fix its support material A person with the family name Jeong and a man with the family name Jeong, who was born in the Imja year, donated bokjang*(votive objects). Uijin and Huisang, both of whom hold the post of Pansa, learned about the Buddhist project from afar and took part in it. Haengyeon, Hyejing, Takjun, and Taejeon, all of whom were in charge of receiving guests at the time The sanin* Samhye, Sinmin, Seonghun, Haewon, Gyeonghun, Inheon, Yeongmyo, Sucheon, Myeongan, Sanggyu Singeum, who donated cloth for use as a support material for the painting Jo Dae-saeng, who donated cloth for use as a support material for the painting Yeongae, who donated cloth for use as a support material for the painting A person with the family name Yi, who donated cloth for use as a support material for the painting Ryu Mak-seon, who donated cloth for use as a support material for the painting Oh Jang-i, who donated cloth for use as a support material for the painting Kim Bun-rye, who donated cloth for use as a support material for the painting Choe Sin-nam, who donated cloth for use as a support material for the painting Gyeongchun, who donated cloth for use as a support material for the painting Daerye, who donated cloth for use as a support material for the painting Kim Eot-ryong, who made a donation of materials without any conditions Donors are Kim Eon-rip, Kim Gi-hyeon, Bak Chun-san, Kim Eon-seon, Yi Mak-nam, Seonbi, Kim Mak-rip, Yi Mong-chi, Kim Bun-gae, Han Sun-rye, Bak Gil-nam, Choe Pa-hoe, Yi Chun-nam, Choe Ae-saeng, Ryu Hwa-wonrye, Kim Sun-won, Song Hu-nam, Jang Ga-eumi, Kim Myeong-nam, Jo Hae-gil, Jo Deuk-nam, Jo Seung-seon, and Jo Tae-sin. People who produced the gwaebul painting Those who produced the gwaebul painting are Monk Cheolhak, Monk Cheonseung, Monk Sinmil, Monk Ilho, and Monk Haejong. People who participated in the Buddhist project Monk Seungok, who examined whether the Buddhist project was being performed properly Monk Samhye, who managed the incense, offerings, and more for the Buddhist altars Monk Deokrim and Monk Neungan, both of whom procured goods to be used by the public Monk Simyeol, who gathered a large amount of material donations Glossary of Gwaebul Inscriptions * tongjeong daebu 通政大夫: The third senior rank of a civil official during the Joseon Dynasty * batang 婆幀/基布: Cloth used as a support material for a Buddhist painting * bokjang 腹藏: Votive objects that enliven and sanctify Buddha sculptures and Buddhist paintings * sanin 山人: A monk who joined the sangha (monastic communities) in Buddhism