The Vulture Peak Assembly Gwaebul at Hwoeomsa Temple(華嚴寺 靈山會 掛佛幀)

화엄사 영산회 괘불탱 메인 이미지

Date
1653년(효종 4)
Designation Type
National Treasure
Monk-Painters
Jiyeong, Tangye, Dou,, Sasun, Haengcheol , Nahyeop
Dimensions
Total 1,208×769.4cm, Image 1,013×732.3cm
Designated Date
1997-09-22
Holder
Hwaeomsa Temple

Overview

This gwaebul painting is a group image presenting Shakyamuni Buddha in the center flanked by Manjusri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas and surrounded by a symmetrical grouping of the Ten Buddhas of the Other Worlds, Ten Disciples, and Four Guardian Kings. The painting is twelve meters high but was produced only thirty years after the Shakyamuni Buddha Gwaebul at Jungnimsa Temple (from 1622), meaning its size was more than doubled to serve at outdoor rituals. Despite its massiveness, the gwaebul painting ensures a sense of stability through the balanced arrangement of Shakyamuni Buddha’s subordinates. In the uppermost section of the painting is an ornately decorated canopy featuring the Ten Buddhas of the Other Worlds descending in two groups (one on each side) to listen to Shakyamuni’s sermon. Immediately below the canopy are two Pratyeka Buddhas. Below them are the Ten Disciples of Shakyamuni. Samantabhadra and Manjusri Bodhisattvas can be seen on the left and right of the body halo of Shakyamuni Buddha. Samantabhadra Bodhisattva is on the left holding a lotus stem topped with a sutra book, and Manjusri Bodhisattva is holding a stem with lotus buds. Two of the Four Guardian Kings are standing in the upper portion of the painting and the other two are in a lower portion. The waist armor worn by one of the Four Guardian Kings standing below the right hand of Shakyamuni Buddha is decorated with a bonghwang (a type of mythical bird) holding a flower in its beak. Such bonghwang are rarely seen in other Buddhist paintings. An incense burner and a variety of offerings held in two bowls, including gold, silver, coral, a pearl, a wish-fulfilling jewel, and a dragon horn, are shown set on the altar in front of Shakyamuni Buddha in an effort to more vividly depict the scene of the Vulture Peak Assembly. In the lower-center of the painting is a cartouche with an inscription recording the production date of the gwaebul and the list of people who participated in its production. According to the inscription, the gwaebul was created on the twenty-ninth day of the fifth lunar month of 1653 (the fourth year of the reign of King Hyojong). Five monk-painters took part in the production under the head monk-painter Jiyeong. The others include Tangye, Dou, Sasun, Haengcheol, and Nahyeop.

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. The list of people who made donations for the production of this gwaebul painting on the 29th day of the 5th lunar month of the Gyesa year (1653), the 10th year of the Shunzhi era Aegyeong, who alone made a considerable donation of materials (siju*) for a Buddhist hanging scroll Kim Deok-saeng and spouse, Chunggeum (alone), Yi Su and spouse, and Ku Wol and spouse, all of whom donated base materials Aegeum (alone) and Kim Gwi-yeon and spouse, all of whom donated a great volume of goods to be used by the public Hwang Ui-hong and spouse, who made a donation of materials without any conditions Monk Uisu, Kim Dol-mun and spouse, Kim Gi-seung and spouse, and Hwail and spouse, all of whom donated goods to be used by the public Monk Yeongchuk and Monk Daman, both of whom made donations of materials without any conditions Kim Su-un and spouse, who donated light green pigment Seon Sa-jong and spouse, Ju Deuk-ryong and spouse, and Kim Gae and spouse, all of whom donated gold Seongye and spouse, who donated vermillion pigment Kim Cheon-bok and spouse, who donated yellow pigment (called sudohwang in Korean) Choe No-i and spouse, who donated potassium alum pigment Princess Ikpyeong and her husband, who donated a pouch for containing votive objects Ingae and spouse, who donated lamps and candles Geumgae and spouse, who donated a round mirror Choe Jeong-seon and spouse and Chirwol (alone), all of whom donated metal items Bak Won-nam and spouse, who donated flour The yeongga* (soul) of Bak Dae-yeong, who donated blocks of fermented soybeans Yi Cheon-nyeon and spouse, who made a donation of materials without any conditions Aehyang, who alone donated blocks of fermented soybeans Goryeong and spouse and Sungi and spouse, all of whom donated goods to be used by the public Kang Ja-geun and spouse, who donated a round mirror Monk Gakhyeong, who made a donation of materials without any conditions Returning the favor, [the king] bestowed upon the nation’s great Seon master, who explicated his teachings in a complete and luminous manner, the posthumous title “Great Preceptor Byeokbongdang Gakseong,” which means that he upheld the customs and traditions of the sect, developed expedient means [for teaching], and saved all [sentient beings]. Monk Seonghye, who held the rank of Tongjeong daebu* and was the former Dochongseop* in Jeollanam-do Province Monk Gyeongheon, who held the rank of Tongjeong daebu* and was the former Hongcheongrye and Chongseop* Monk Gyewon, who held the rank of Jeolchung janggun* Monk Sinhaeng, who served as the head monk (juji*) of Hwaeomsa Temple Monk Uiryeong, who assisted the head monk and assumed clerical duties Monk Beopho, who represented and led the public at the temple Monk Samhak, who was in charge of receiving guests People who participated in the Buddhist project Monk Ssanghwi, who examined whether the Buddhist project was being performed properly Those who produced the gwaebul painting are Monk Jiyeong, Monk Tangye, Monk Dou, Monk Sasun, Monk Haengcheol, and Monk Nahyeop. Monk Seoro and Monk Tanseup, who procured goods Monk Jongin, who supervised affairs in the kitchen compound Monk Hyeyeon and the yeongga* (soul) of Choe Bok-nam, both of whom collected a substantial amount of donations Monk Uimin, Monk Jijam, and Monk Gyesim, all of whom solicited donations by encouraging donors Glossary of Gwaebul Inscriptions * samgang 三綱: A monk who takes up three monastic positions related to the operation and maintenance of a temples * yeongga 靈駕: The soul of the deceased * tongjeong daebu 通政大夫: The third senior rank of a civil official during the Joseon Dynasty * dochongseop 都捴攝: The highest position among the clerical professions * chongseop 揔攝: The highest position among the clerical professions * jeolchung janggun 折衝將軍: A military rank equivalent to a high-level official with senior second rank bestowed directly by a king during the Joseon Dynasty * juji 住持: An abbot or the task of overseeing and being responsible for all the affairs at a temple