The Vulture Peak Assembly Gwaebul at Ansimsa Temple(安心寺 靈山會 掛佛幀)
Overview
This gwaebul painting is a group image featuring Shakyamuni Buddha in the center flanked symmetrically by the Buddhas of the Ten Directions, the Buddhas of the Other Realms, Manjusri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas, Indra, Brahma, the Ten Great Disciples, and the Four Heavenly Kings. The production was led by the monk-painter Singyeom, who participated in the creation of uigwe (royal protocols) for the Joseon royal court and in the construction of the Jangneung Royal Tomb of King Injo (r. 1623–1649). Except for the differences in the inclusion of some of the subordinates, such as a listener who is asking for and hearing the dharma, this painting bears a close resemblance to The Vulture Peak Assembly Gwaebul at Bosalsa Temple in its composition, iconographical arrangement, depictions of figures and clothing, the characteristic expression of the eyes, and the use of colors and patterns. Shakyamuni Buddha is shown sitting on a lotus pedestal while making the Bhumisparsa (earth-touching) mudra. The deity is wearing a red outer robe with the right shoulder exposed and an undershirt below the chest. His ankles are adorned with navy blue serrated silk decorations in the shape of blades of grass. On each side of the canopy in the upper-middle section of the painting are five of the Buddhas of the Ten Directions. The head halo of Shakyamuni Buddha is flanked symmetrically by the six Buddhas of the Other Realms, three on each side. These Buddhas of the Other Realms are accompanied by a grouping of Queen Vaidehi wearing a flower coronet, Yaksha wearing an elephant-shaped crown, and King Ajatasattu wearing a crown on the left and a grouping of Dragon Maiden wearing a flower coronet, Gandharva wearing a lion-shaped crown, and Dragon King wearing a crown on the right. These two groups of three figures each are placed symmetrically. Below them, the Ten Great Disciples, Indra, Brahma, and the Four Heavenly Kings are surrounding Shakyamuni. Manjusri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva are standing in front of the Buddhist altar, respectively holding a lotus stem and a ruyi scepter. There are no separate cartouches for the inscriptions, but there are inscriptions in two places at the lower edge of the painting. The inscription on the right documents that this gwaebul was produced in the fourth lunar month of the Imjin year (1652), the ninth year of the Shunzi era. It also includes a prayer for the king, queen, and crown prince, the names of fifty-nine donors, and a list of eighteen donated items. The other inscription on the left lists the names of the nine monk-painters who took part (Singyeom (as head monk-painter), Deokhui, Jieon, Jinseong, Sinyul, Samin, Gyeongwon, Myeonggye, and Hyeil).
Inscriptions
A gwaebul painting at Ansimsa Temple in the 4th lunar month of the Imjin year (1652), the 9th year of the Shunzhi era 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. Donors are listed as follows. The yeongga*(soul) of Bak Chun-ryeon, who donated a great volume of goods to be used by the public Monk Cheoneung, who donated a great volume of gold Sawol and spouse, who donated a considerable amount of vermillion pigment Kim Hae-saeng and spouse, who made a considerable donation of materials for the gwaebul painting Bak Su-seong and spouse, who made a considerable donation of materials for the gwaebul painting Jeong I-saeng and spouse, who donated materials for the gwaebul painting Oh Deok-geum and spouse, who made a substantial donation of materials without any conditions Monk Boun, who donated materials without any conditions Jang Ae-bal, who alone donated many pieces of cloth for use as a support material for the Buddhist painting(batang*) Kim Eung-rip and spouse, who donated goods to be used by the public Monk Gyeongsun, who donated a considerable amount of yellow pigment (called sudohwang in Korean) Yi Jin, who alone donated goods to be used by the public Kim Sun-yang and spouse, who donated goods to be used by the public Bak Hae-cheon and spouse, who donated goods to be used by the public Jang Hae-rip and spouse, who donated goods to be used by the public Kang Eon-seong and spouse, who donated goods to be used by the public A person with the family name Yi and spouse, who donated many pieces of cloth for use as a support material for the Buddhist painting Monk Saseon, who donated many pieces of cloth for use as a support material for the Buddhist painting Monk Okjeong, who donated many pieces of cloth for use as a support material for the Buddhist painting Kim Cheon-ae and spouse, who donated many pieces of cloth for use as a support material for the Buddhist painting Yeongae and spouse, who donated many pieces of cloth for use as a support material for the Buddhist painting Yuk Hui-rip and spouse, who donated cloth for use as a support material for the Buddhist painting Yim Yeon-su and spouse, who donated gold Kang Pung-gil and spouse, who donated gold Kim Ui-rip, who alone donated orange pigment Kim Yeong and spouse, who donated arsenic yellow pigment Kim Chwi-il, who alone donated an ornament made of long strings of beads Kim Ae-dong and spouse, who donated a great volume of bokjang*(votive objects) Bak Eot-su and spouse, who made a donation of materials Bae Tak-bok and spouse, who donated blocks of fermented soybeans Yun Eung-rip and spouse, who donated salt Choe Eul-saeng and spouse, who donated lamps and candles Kim Il-saeng and spouse, who donated a lamp for lighting in front of the Buddha Monk Taeheum and Jeong Mal-geum and spouse, all of whom donated bokjang*(votive objects) Monk Nokrin, who examined whether the Buddhist project was being performed properly People who produced the gwaebul painting Monk Singyeom, Monk Deokhui, Monk Jieon, Monk Jinseong, Monk Sinyul, Monk Samin, Monk Gyeongwon, Monk Myeonggye, Monk Hyeil People who participated in the Buddhist project Monk Singyu, Monk Hoemin, and Monk Seongim, all of whom procured goods to be used by the public Jeong Gil-geum and spouse, who served as a liaison in and outside the temple Monk Seonghae, who supervised affairs in the kitchen compound The cheongsin geosa* Jang Ae-nam and his wife, who wrote a moyeonmun (fundraising appeal letter) and solicited a large amount of material donations for the Buddhist project(Ganseon*) The geosa* An Chu-in and his wife, who encouraged people to make donations of materials Glossary of Gwaebul Inscriptions * yeongga 靈駕: The soul of the deceased * batang 婆幀/基布: Cloth used as a support material for a Buddhist painting * geosa 居士/淸信居士: A term referring to a male who has not become a Buddhist monk * ganseon 幹善: A person in charge of writing or managing letters for soliciting donations for Buddhist projects, encouraging people to start a causal relation with the Buddha, and collecting monetary donations


